Circulating Tumor Cells

Presents a range of topics in the area of Circulating Tumor Cells including their isolation and analysis

Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) in peripheral blood play a key role in cancer metastasis because cancer cells must transport through the circulatory system before colonizing the secondary sites. CTCs have been advocated as potential biomarkers for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and theragnosis or personalized medicine. As a result, CTC isolation and analysis is an important topic in research, medical, and clinical communities.

Early chapters in Circulating Tumor Cells: Isolation and Analysis present an introduction to CTCs as well as historical perspective for readers both in and entering the field, while subsequent chapters explore a variety of state-of-the-art isolation methods, post-isolation analysis, clinical translation, and commercial platforms.

Split into five parts Circulating Tumor Cells: Isolation and Analysis features:

• An introductory chapter presenting CTCs from historic perspectives
• CTC isolation methods ranging from the macro- to micro-scale, from positive isolation to negative depletion, and from biological-property-enabled to physical-property-based approaches
• Post-isolation analysis and clinical translation, including tumor heterogeneity, single cell analysis, regulatory policy, and clinical practice
• Commercialization platforms such as CellSearch, the only FDA-approved CTC platform, and DEPArray, which is an instrument that can identify, quantify, and recover individual CTCs
• A glossary, consisting of the definition of scientific terms related to CTCs

Because CTC isolation and analysis are important topics that have attracted much interest from academics, government agencies, and industry, this field has been the subject of many international symposia, calls-for-proposals from funding agencies, and articles in high-impact journals. The significance of CTCs and potential market values make companies and investors interested in the field. Many researchers, as well as students will find this book a welcome addition to gain new insight to this rapidly growing field.