Circulating Tumor Cell News and Research

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Certain fragments of DNA shed by tumors can be used to non-invasively screen for early-stage cancers

Certain fragments of DNA shed by tumors into the bloodstream can potentially be used to non-invasively screen for early-stage cancers, monitor responses to treatment and help explain why some cancers are resistant to therapies, according to results of an international study led by Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center investigators.

20 Feb 2014

Rubicon Genomics introduces PicoPLEX DNA-seq Kits for use with Illumina NGS platforms

Rubicon Genomics, Inc. today announced the launch of its PicoPLEX DNA-seq Kits for use with Illumina next-generation sequencing (NGS) platforms. PicoPLEX's outstanding robustness and reproducibility have made it the worldwide standard for single-cell DNA amplification for microarray and PCR-based pre-implantation genetic screening and diagnosis. PicoPLEX DNA-seq now enables researchers and clinicians to access PicoPLEX technology for analyses conducted on Illumina NGS systems.

10 Feb 2014

Fluxion Biosciences announces release of IsoFlux Rare Cell Enrichment Kit

Fluxion Biosciences, Inc. announced the release of a new reagent kit for the IsoFlux System designed to provide more options for circulating tumor cell and other rare cell capture from biological samples. The IsoFlux Rare Cell Enrichment (Streptavidin) Kit incorporates streptavidin-coated magnetic beads that can bind with one or more biotinylated antibodies targeted towards cell-surface markers on the cells of interest.

From Fluxion Biosciences 21 Jan 2014

Life Technologies, Quest Diagnostics sign multi-year license and supply agreement

Life Technologies has completed a multi-year license and supply agreement with Quest Diagnostics, the world's leading provider of diagnostic information services, that gives Quest rights to develop molecular tests on the Ion Torrent next-generation sequencing platform. Under the agreement, Quest may use the platform and related consumables to independently develop new tests for numerous areas of their business.

From Quest Diagnostics 10 Jan 2014

Switching chemotherapy does not improve survival in metastatic breast cancer patients with CTCs

For women with metastatic breast cancer who had elevated amounts of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in their blood after a first line of chemotherapy, switching immediately to a different chemotherapy did not improve overall survival or time to progression, according to the results of a phase III clinical trial presented here at the 2013 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, held Dec. 10-14.

16 Dec 2013

Novel device may simplify monitoring of patients' response to treatment for ovarian cancer

A microchip-based device developed by Massachusetts General Hospital investigators may greatly simplify the monitoring of patients' response to treatment for ovarian cancer - the most lethal form of gynecologic cancer - and certain other malignancies.

6 Dec 2013

Fluxion Biosciences reports first study results from early stage NSCLC patients

Fluxion Biosciences, Inc. announced the presentation of the first pilot study results aimed at isolating circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients obtained in collaboration with Dr. Max Diehn's lab at Stanford University. CTCs are cells that disseminate from primary tumors and contribute to the spread of the disease to other parts of the body.

From Fluxion Biosciences 27 Nov 2013

Liquid biopsy: New device could help doctors diagnose and treat cancers

A microfluidic chip developed at the University of Michigan is among the best at capturing elusive circulating tumor cells from blood-and it can support the cells' growth for further analysis.

1 Oct 2013

Biomedical professor receives 2013 Transformative Research Award from NIH

Cancer researchers have been limited by current imaging technology in their ability to detect not only structure and function of tumors, but also tumor cell circulation. A technology proposed by Lihong Wang, PhD, at Washington University in St. Louis, may hold the key to reaching this goal.

1 Oct 2013

MIT researchers develop microfluidic device that mimics flow of cancer cells through blood vessels

Cancer cells metastasize in several stages -- first by invading surrounding tissue, then by infiltrating and spreading via the circulatory system. Some circulating cells work their way out of the vascular network, eventually forming a secondary tumor.

21 Sep 2013

arGEN-X announces CTA filing of Phase Ib cancer study with ARGX-111

arGEN-X, a clinical stage human monoclonal antibody therapeutics company, announces today the CTA filing of a first-in-man Phase Ib cancer study with ARGX-111, its second proprietary SIMPLE Antibody product to enter the clinic this year.

17 Sep 2013

New microfluidic chip can capture live CTCs from patient's blood

Tumor cells circulating within a patient's bloodstream can carry cancer from a primary tumor site to distant sites of the body, spreading the disease.

9 Aug 2013

White blood cells and the spread of cancer: an interview with Drs. Lorenzo Ferri and Jonathan Cools-Lartigue, McGill University

As surgeons who take care of cancer patients, we have observed a troubling association between patients who suffer from infections after surgery and the rapid spread of their cancer. We have reported this in lung cancer patients, and others have made these observations in a variety of different cancers. However, the mechanisms responsible for this association are still poorly understood.

16 Jul 2013

PRISM Pharma announces closing of $15 million Series C financing

PRISM Pharma Co., Ltd., a drug discovery company focused on developing small molecule technologies that modulate protein-protein interactions, today announced the close of an approximately $15 million (approximately ¥1.4 billion) Series C financing.

13 Jun 2013

SUNY Downstate to receive grant to advance blood test to predict breast cancer progression

SUNY Downstate Medical Center will receive up to $50,000 from the statewide SUNY Technology Accelerator Fund to advance a blood test to determine breast cancer prognosis.

10 Jun 2013

Cells with amplified HER2 gene need to be considered carefully, study says

Biocept, Inc., a privately-held, CLIA certified laboratory testing company focused on detection and analysis of circulating tumor cells and circulating tumor DNA in cancer patients, reported the publication in the journal Cancer Medicine of a paper entitled "Discordance in HER2 gene amplification in circulating and disseminated tumor cells in patients with operable breast cancer" on research performed with collaborators from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

5 Jun 2013

Scientists report that human scabs have become model for advanced wound dressing material

Human scabs have become the model for development of an advanced wound dressing material that shows promise for speeding the healing process, scientists are reporting. Their study appears in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.

30 May 2013

Cancers physically alter cells in lymphatic system to promote the spread of disease

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center report that cancers physically alter cells in the lymphatic system - a network of vessels that transports and stores immune cells throughout the body - to promote the spread of disease, a process called metastasis.

14 May 2013

Clinical data of cabozantinib to be presented at ASCO meeting

Exelixis, Inc. announced today that cabozantinib will be the subject of nine separate data presentations at the upcoming 2013 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

8 May 2013

Cell sorting device improves detection of circulating tumor cells

An automated cell sorting device developed in the USA may allow circulating tumor cells to be detected with greater accuracy than by current methods, say researchers.

25 Apr 2013