CTC Viability, Isolation, and Identification - July 2024
Written by Lisbeth Roy
Updated at February 18th, 2025
A full library of publications is available on the RGCC website:https://rgcc-international.com/published-articles/
CTC Viability, Isolation, and Identification
Viability: Taking under consideration the fragility of Circulating Tumour cells, RGCC’s sample collection and shipping methods are based on studies that have been performed and published demonstrating that the transfer period does not affect the gene and protein expression profile of CTCs when they are transferred in appropriate tubes, with specific conditions. These conditions are fulfilled with RGCC specific collection tubes containing anticoagulant liquid, that are transported to the lab in our customized ISOBOXES that ensure the safe shipment of the sample in the appropriate temperature range without decrease of cell viability or alteration in their phenotype. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28975085/
Isolation: The isolation protocol, which is based in Fluorescence-activated Cell Sorting, enables the elimination of specific cells. We eliminate endothelial and other hematological origin cells, while the collected cells are tested for the expression of specific cancer markers. These cells are cultivated, and they are also tested before any further assay is performed.
Our techniques of isolation of CTCs have been peer reviewed, assessed, and verified that they are actual isolation and not enrichment methods. Furthermore, these methods have led RGCC to identify novel therapeutic targets and novel candidate drugs that are already in the process of assessment, and several of them are in the level of early human trials.
Identification: It has also been suggested that CTCs are not abundant in the average cancer patient, however, it has been demonstrated that the proliferation rate of CTCs is quite different than conventional cancer cells since they might contain sub-populations of Cancer Stem Cell-like cells. Therefore, it is feasible to have millions of cells after a few days, enough to proceed to further assays.