NEWS News ROUND-UP 6


Novel method for isolation of circulating tumor cells developed


A novel method for concentrating circulating tumor cells (CTCs) for liquid biopsy of cancer has been developed by a team at UCLA. Published this week in Oncotarget, the new approach could present a more effective and low-cost option for noninvasive biopsy compared with current techniques. Investigator Dino Di Carlo (Jonsson


Comprehensive Cancer Center at UCLA) and team developed a technology that generates millimeter-scale whirlpools to draw in and concentrate CTCs based on their size. Subsequent analysis of these CTCs can aid in tailoring treatments to each patient and can also help predict the chances of disease relapse. “CTCs are extremely rare, so isolating them is a problem similar to finding a needle in a haystack,” commented Di Carlo. “Our filterless system avoids issues of previous


technologies that clog and break cells apart, and we found this approach was more effective than technologies currently available at isolating cells from breast and lung cancer patients.”


Over the course of the study, the UCLA team isolated and analyzed CTCs from 50 cancer patients using their technique. In a number of these patients, they compared the number of CTCs isolated with the numbers retrieved using the current US FDA-approved gold standard instrument. This analysis demonstrated that the new approach uncovered significantly higher numbers of cells per patient, with in excess of 80% of patients having CTC levels above age-matched healthy individuals, compared with only 20% with the currently approved instrument.


To see full story, please go to: www.oncology-central. com/2016/02/23/novel-method-for-isolation-of-cir- culating-tumor-cells-developed


CHALLENGING CIRCULATING TUMOR CELL STUDY POINTS TO NEW METASTASIS STRATEGIES


New research suggests that circulating tumor cell clusters can pass through capillary-sized blood vessels, challenging previous assumptions and providing potential new strategies to reduce metastasis.


Contradicting widely held beliefs, the researchers, from Massachusetts General Hospital (USA), sought to explain why large clusters have been found in veins far from primary tumors. The enhanced ability of clusters of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) over single cells to drive metastasis is widely accepted and supported by research, yet their behavior in the circulation remained unexplored.


this research may lead to development of methods of impeding passage,


The researchers hope


thus reducing metastatic potential.


The team developed


a microfluidic device with channels tapering to 5–10 µm, mimicking capillaries, finding that over 90% of clusters of up to 20 cells were able to pass through, even in whole blood. Both mesenchymal and epithelial cell phenotypes were analyzed. Imaging demonstrated that the clusters reversibly unfolded on encountering a constriction, reassembling on the other side.


To see full story, please go to: www. oncology-central.com/2016/05/01/ challenging-circulating-tu- mor-cell-study-points-new-metas- tasis-strategies


www.oncology-central.com


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