Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are cells from solid tumors that circulate in the bloodstream at a rate of approximately one in a billion. As such, these cells are extremely hard to acquire and require large quantities of blood. A new microchip technology, relying on a novel geometric shape at the nano-scale, is able to detect, capture and analyze CTCs with a 99% rate and using less than one-thousandth the volume of blood. This test is invaluable for providing real-time information for treatment decisions, assessing treatment response, identifying risk factors and early detection of cancers. As of yet this chip has successfully isolated CTCs from lung, colorectal, pancreatic, breast, prostate and esophageal cancers. Find more in Mass General’s press release.
Posted by Milly Ray, PhD candidate, Harvard Medical School
BioBusinessBlog 