CTC-chip isolates, analyzes rare tumor cells in bloodstream

Circulating tumor cells, which are more commonly referred to as CTCs, have thus far remained practically useless when it came to aiding in clinical decision making, but a new development could enable these rare cells to finally be used for guiding treatment. Reportedly, a crew of investigators from the Massachusetts General Hospital have crafted a "microchip-based device (dubbed CTC-chip) that can isolate, enumerate and analyze CTCs from a blood sample," which has the "potential to be an invaluable tool for monitoring and guiding cancer treatment." Additionally, researchers can look forward to "better understanding the biology of cancer cells and the mechanisms of metastasis," but there's still quite a bit of work to be done before the device can be put to clinical use.

[Via Physorg]

[stands2reason @ Dec 24th 2007 9:11AM]

w00t! Nanotechnology for t3h wins!

[Randavance @ Dec 24th 2007 11:35AM]

As I post this comment, the article about revolutionary technology to cure cancer has 2 comments.

The article next to it about cramming the entire bible onto a pin head has 70.

Does anyone but me see something wrong here?

[kerry @ Dec 24th 2007 1:36PM]

To say that CTCs have been useless diagnostically is a little exaggerated. Research labs are working constantly to develop diagnostic tools using CTCs. There is also a great deal of research currently working on various ways of utilizing CTCs to directly predict cancer outcomes and treatment efficacy, this chip isn't the only development in that arena. My lab is currently developing diagnostic assays using CTCs and circulating free DNA for prostate cancer. We currently use an immunoassay for separating our CTCs, my guess is this chip uses the same principle (though does a bunch of additional work once the cells are captured, what we have to do manually). It's a neat idea to do analysis on the chip, but what happens when you want to analyze something that the chip can't do? Can you get the cells off?

[sherryfriedrichs @ Dec 24th 2007 10:16PM]

This is a fabulous use of technology! Maybe make a medical gadget file to get more people's attention.

[sherryfriedrichs @ Dec 24th 2007 10:19PM]

I agree with your point. Many people aren't looking for a cure or even an identifier for cancer here, but maybe this will change over time. I think there should be a medical file started.

[络龙医搜 @ Feb 15th 2008 6:03AM]

microchip-based device (dubbed CTC-chip) that can isolate, enumerate and analyze CTCs from a blood sample,
Perhaps it is very useful.