Nanostructure embedded microchips for detection, isolation, and characterization of circulating tumor cells.

ABSTRACT: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are cancer cells that break away from either a primary tumor or a metastatic site and circulate in the peripheral blood as the cellular origin of metastasis. With their role as a "tumor liquid biopsy", CTCs provide convenient access to all disease sites, including that of the primary tumor and the site of fatal metastases. It is conceivable that detecting and analyzing CTCs will provide insightful information in assessing the disease status without the flaws and limitations encountered in performing conventional tumor biopsies. However, identifying CTCs in patient blood samples is technically challenging due to the extremely low abundance of CTCs among a large number of hematologic cells. To address this unmet need, there have been significant research endeav

SUBMITTER: Lin M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4204926 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature