Download Circulating Tumor Cells (CTC) are cells that break free from the

TECHNOLOGIES FOR CELL
CHARACTERIZATION:
MOLECULAR CYTOMETRY
IN CTCTRAP
Circulating Tumor Cells (CTC) are
cells that break free from the
tumor and circulate in the blood
of cancer patients, forming
metastases. CTC provide real-time
information about patient survival
and treatment. Unfortunately, they
are very rare and hard to capture
and analyse. We aim to develop
techniques and methods to
characterize, image and analyse
CTC at the single cell level.
Currently under development is
the CTCTrap, a therapeutic
apheresis device that captures
CTC from 5 litre blood from a
metastatic cancer patient. A
matrix captures CTC with
antibodies and after release they
are filtered through a sieve.
Remaining cells are stained with
antibodies and fluorescent
molecules to discriminate
between CTC and non-CTC.
Subsequently, captured single
CTC can be isolated and analysed.
Cells can be punched out the
sieve into reaction vials using a
punch needle. This will allow
molecular characterization on
single CTC, like protein, DNA and
RNA analysis.
RESEARCH GROUP
MEDICAL CELL BIOPHYSICS