ancer Detection Platform Which Measures Telomerase ivity from Live Circulating Tumor Cells

Downlo ulating tumor cells (CTC) quantified in cancer patients' blood can predict disease outcome and se to therapy. However, the CTC analysis platforms commonly used cannot capture live CTCs and only to tumors of epithelial origin. To address these limitations, we have developed a novel cancer detection m which measures telomerase activity from live CTCs captured on a parylene-C slot microfilter. Using a nt low-pressure delivery system, the new microfilter platform was capable of cell capture from 1 mL of blood in less than 5 minutes, achieving 90% capture efficiency, 90% cell viability, and 200-fold sample ment. Importantly, the captured cells retained normal morphology by scanning electron microscopy ould be readily manipulated, further analyzed, or expanded onor off-filter. Telomerase activity—a cognized universal cancer marker—was reliably detected by quantitative PCR from as few as 25 cancer dded into 7.5 mL of whole blood and captured on the microfilter. Moreover, significant telomerase y elevation was also measured from patients' blood samples and from single cancer cells lifted off of icrofilter. Live CTC capture and analysis is fast and simple yet highly quantitative, versatile, and applithe m cable to nearly all solid tumor types, making this a highly promising new strategy for cancer detection and characterization. Cancer Res; 70(16); 6420–6. ©2010 AACR.