The analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) is an important capability that may lead to new approaches for cancer management. CTC capture devices developed to date isolate a bulk population of CTCs and do not differentiate subpopulations that may have varying phenotypes with different levels of clinical relevance. Here, we present a new family of devices for CTC phenotypic profiling that allow small collections of cells to be analyzed with a high level of resolution. Antibody-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles bind to cancer cells at levels that report on the expression of cell surface markers, and facilitate sorting and phenotyping of cancer cells. Working with patient blood samples, we obtain profiles that elucidate the heterogeneity of CTC populations present in cancer patients.

Nanoparticle-mediated characterization of circulating tumor cell subpopulations

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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