Creative Biolabs is a global CRO company that focuses on in vitro diagnostics (IVD) services. With our extensive experience and unique cell-level detection platform, we can provide a series of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) detection services based on a wide variety of state-of-art technologies. Up to now, equipped with a team of professional scientists, we have won a good reputation among our worldwide customers for accomplishing numerous challenging projects in this field.
Introduction to Circulating Tumor Cells
Tumor metastasis has been considered as the major cause of the mortality of cancer patients. Meanwhile, previous studies have indicated that a group of cells has been found that are shed from primary tumors and circulating in the blood during the early stages of primary tumor formation and growth. Therefore, the detection and identification of CTCs has become a powerful tool for monitoring and preventing metastatic disease development. Moreover, CTCs sequence analysis can provide support data for clinical treatment and be used to evaluate the efficacy of systemic therapies, such as antibody therapy and targeted therapy. In addition, pilot studies have revealed that CTCs are highly heterogeneous cells and are regarded as a real-time "liquid biopsy" of cancer patients. Till now, CTCs can be enriched and detected by different techniques, including but not limited to, fluorescence immunocytochemistry (ICC), quantitative real-time PCR assays, as well as automated microscopic systems, according to their physical and biological characteristics.
Fig.1 CTC biology. Distributed under CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wiki, without modification.
Our CTC Detection Services
Recently, many attempts have been made to the development of effective CTC detection assays that allow testing a wide variety of cell types. These assays can provide unique insights into the early metastatic spread and can guide the clinical treatment of human cancers.
In Creative Biolabs, we offer you the flexibility and speed CTC detection solutions to help you get there ahead of schedule while maintaining the highest quality. Up to now, we have a wealth of scientific knowledge in every challenge and have a track record at every stage of the CTC detection assay development process to help you save cost and time. Furthermore, our experts understand the long and complex journey ahead of one-stop IVD solution discovery and are as committed as you are to your success. We are driven by science and have experience solving any complex CTC detection-based study challenges.
Our Technologies Used for CTC Detection
In addition to providing information on disease diagnosis, Creative Biolabs has generated a large panel of technologies based on the different properties of CTCs to distinguish them from the surrounding normal cells, like cell properties and biological properties. CTCs detection methods based on biological properties consist of RT-PCR. Methods based on cell properties include fluorescently-stained biochips and (EPithelial ImmunoSPOT) EPISPOT assay. Nowadays, we have also developed two new assays, line-confocal microscope and surface-enhanced raman scattering assay (SERS), for direct detection of CTCs without enrichment. The results derived from our labs have shown that the limit of detection (LOD) of these two assays can be very low (1 cell/mL).
By continuing to grow in response to the requirements of our clients, Creative Biolabs is dedicated to exploring novel and innovative CTC detection technologies to offer the most comprehensive, integrated portfolio of IVD solutions. If you have any special needs in our CTC detection-based services or be interested in learning more about our company, please feel free to contact us for more details.
Published Data
1. Quantitative Analysis of CTC Dynamics Using Bioluminescence Imaging in an Orthotopic Mammary Carcinoma Model
Fig.2 Bioluminescence imaging of CTCs dynamics in the 4T1-GL orthotopic mammary tumor model.1
In this study, researchers presented a bioluminescence imaging assay for detecting CTCs in mouse models of metastasis. Using a 4T1 orthotopic metastatic mammary carcinoma mouse model, they showed that this quantitative method was sensitive enough to detect as few as 2 CTCs in 0.1-1 mL blood samples, with high specificity for CTCs derived from the primary tumor, regardless of epithelial characteristics. Over a 24-day period, the researchers tracked CTC dynamics, primary tumor growth, and lung metastasis progression. Early in tumor development, they observed low CTC counts (10–15 cells/100 µL) and found that CTC dynamics correlated with primary tumor growth. This study marks the first application of bioluminescence imaging for detecting and quantifying CTC dynamics in any cancer mouse model. This assay could enhance the study of CTC dynamics across animal models and inform clinical decisions on blood sampling timing and longitudinal CTC enumeration in cancer patients.
Reference
- Sasportas, Laura Sarah, et al. "Detection and quantitation of circulating tumor cell dynamics by bioluminescence imaging in an orthotopic mammary carcinoma model." PloS one 9.9 (2014): e105079. Distributed under Open Access license CC BY 4.0, without modification.
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