OncoMetastat safely captured cancer cells across multiple onco-dialysis cycles in rats. Publications | August 30, 2026 Capture of Cancerous Cells and Overall Survival in Rats using Ex-vivo Extracorporeal Device in Multiple Onco-dialysis Cycles An animal study evaluated OncoMetastat for ex-vivo cancer cell capture, safety, and survival in rats. Across multiple onco-dialysis cycles, cancer cells were captured, all test-group rats survived 14 days, and histopathology showed normal tissues. Introduction: The micrometastatic cascade involves the progression of cancer cells from the primary tumor to distant organs. Capture and elimination of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) may potentially delay metastasis; however, demonstrating this in ex-vivo models remains highly challenging. Here, we demonstrate cancer cell capture, safety, and overall survival in rats using an ex-vivo extracorporeal device across multiple onco-dialysis cycles. Methods: In this animal observational study (IAEC/2025-26/M2/15), 12 White Wistar Albino rats were subjected to onco-dialysis using the miniature OncoMetastat device containing anti-EpCAM antibody-coated glass beads. For safety evaluation, rats were anesthetized, and 1 ml of blood was obtained from the retro-orbital artery, heparinized, and exposed to the device. Subsequently, 0.3 ml of blood was re-injected through the tail vein, and the animals were monitored for changes in temperature and signs of anaphylactic shock. DAPI-pre-stained MCF-7 cells (0.5 × 10⁶) were injected via the rat tail vein (n=6). After 15 minutes, 1 ml of blood was withdrawn from the retro-orbital artery, heparinized, circulated through the OncoMetastat device, and 0.3 ml was recirculated into the rats. Glass beads were analyzed for cancer cell capture across cycles I–III, with 48 hours of rest between cycles. Animals were monitored for 14 days for overall survival (OS) and subsequently sacrificed for histopathological evaluation. Results: Eleven of the 12 rats demonstrated safety following exposure to the onco-dialysis device. A total of 23 cells were captured across three rats over three cycles. In Rat 1, 9, 5, and 1 cells were captured in cycles I, II, and III, respectively, with a mean of 5.0 cells. In Rat 2, 3, 2, and 1 cells were captured across cycles I–III, respectively. In Rat 3, 1, 1, and 0 cells were captured across cycles I–III, respectively. The mean distribution of captured cells across all rats was 7.67/ml. Overall survival was observed in both groups, although one rat in the control group experienced mortality. All rats in the test group survived the 14-day observation period. Histopathological evaluation revealed normal tissues in device-exposed rats. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the safety and capture of cancer cells using an ex-vivo extracorporeal device across multiple onco-dialysis cycles in rats, with all test-group animals surviving the 14-day observation period and showing normal tissue histopathology. Know more Stay One Step Ahead of Cancer. Get the latest news and innovations from Actorius delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for regular updates Email* Yes, subscribe me for regular updates. * Subscribe

N-Cadherin CTC capture identifies EMT-CTCs linked to metastasis and treatment resistance. Publications | August 30, 2026 Capture of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transitioning Circulating Tumor Cells using Affinity Based N-Cadherin System A study demonstrating N-Cadherin affinity-based capture of EMT-associated CTCs in diverse cancers, with Vimentin-positive CTC detection in 90% of samples and N-Cadherin expression revealing heterogeneous metastatic phenotypes. Introduction: Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) enables tumour cells to lose epithelial characteristics, acquire enhanced motility and aggressive invasiveness, and activate metastatic dissemination. Circulating tumour cells (CTCs) undergoing true EMT possess greater metastatic potential than purely epithelial CTCs because they exhibit increased survival in the bloodstream, immune evasion, and the ability to colonise distant organs. Thus, detection and characterization of EMT-CTCs provide clinically valuable insights into metastatic risk, disease progression, and treatment resistance beyond conventional epithelial CTC enumeration. Here, we report an N-Cadherin affinity-based ligand CTC-capture platform for capturing CTCs demonstrating varied EMT-CTC phenotypes. Methods: Retrospectively, we analyzed blood samples from 30 cancer patients, including colorectal cancer stages I–IV (n=9), breast/TNBC (n=7), advanced lung adenocarcinoma (n=2), pancreatic cancer, anaplastic thyroid cancer, endometrial cancer, head and neck cancer, melanoma, and others. The cohort comprised 18 female and 12 male patients aged 19–84 years. We first validated Vimentin-positive MCF-7 cells using the OncoMetastat platform containing N-Cadherin glass beads for cellular localization. CTCs were captured using N-Cadherin glass beads from 1.5 mL of blood and subsequently confirmed based on Vimentin+, DAPI+, N-Cadherin+, and CD45− expression using a Nikon Ti-2 fluorescence microscope. Results: Vimentin-positive CTCs were detected in 27/30 (90%) cancer patient blood samples. A total of 42 CTCs were captured, with a mean distribution of approximately 1.4 CTCs per sample and a range of 1–3 CTCs. Among the isolated CTCs, 13/42 (30.9%) expressed cellular N-Cadherin. Importantly, N-Cadherin expression was observed in 5/10 (50%) colorectal cancer (CRC) samples and 3/7 (42.8%) breast cancer samples. In six patients, intra-CTC heterogeneity was observed, with both N-Cadherin-positive and N-Cadherin-negative CTCs. The MCF-7 cell study demonstrated >90% cell capture using the N-Cadherin affinity platform, with Vimentin localization. Conclusion: We demonstrate the capture of true epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitioning CTCs using an affinity-based N-Cadherin system in cancer patients. Further studies are required to investigate comparative CTC detection using anti-EpCAM antibodies and N-Cadherin, as well as their association with clinical outcomes. Know more Stay One Step Ahead of Cancer. Get the latest news and innovations from Actorius delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for regular updates Email* Yes, subscribe me for regular updates. * Subscribe

RUPIKA reduces cancer worry when communicating CTC-based minimal residual disease results. Publications | August 30, 2026 Assessment of apprehension for Minimal Cellular Residual Disease Using Circulating Tumour Cells in Pre and Post Surgery Breast Cancer Patients A prospective study evaluates RUPIKA, a structured CTC-based MRD disclosure protocol, showing significantly reduced cancer worry among breast cancer patients after surgery compared with routine result communication. Introduction: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are increasingly used to assess minimal cellular residual disease (MCRD) in solid tumors. However, no standardized guidance exists for communicating MCRD results to patients, potentially leading to psychological distress and increased apprehension regarding residual disease after treatment, including surgery. We developed RUPIKA—Rapport, Understanding and Education, Preparation for Sample Collection, Inform Results, Kind Closure, and Advise for Follow-up—a structured communication protocol for sharing post-surgery outcomes with patients. We report an apprehension protocol for communicating MCRD outcomes in pre- and post-surgery breast cancer patients. Method: In an ongoing prospective interventional study (CTRI/2025/09/094661 and IEC SJNAHS 113/2025; St. John’s Medical College Hospital, Bengaluru, India), six oncology experts standardized the study using the ABC Content Validity Index (CVI) framework. Pre- and post-surgery, 22 patients with early-stage or in-situ stage I–III breast cancer were enrolled and equally assigned to routine disclosure (control, n=11) or RUPIKA-guided disclosure (intervention, n=11). A 1.5 mL blood sample was analyzed for CTCs (CK⁺/DAPI⁺/CD45⁻) and PD-L1 expression using the CDSCO-India-approved OncoDiscover immunomagnetic CTC platform. The six-step RUPIKA protocol included rapport building, understanding and education, preparation for sample collection, structured communication of CTC results, supportive closure, and follow-up planning. Cancer worry and apprehension were assessed before and after disclosure. The mean patient age was 52±12 years. Twenty-seven percent had early-stage/in-situ disease, with Luminal B representing the predominant molecular subtype. Most participants were from rural backgrounds, and none had prior awareness of MRD. Results: The protocol demonstrated high validity (CVI=0.98). CTCs persisted in a substantial proportion of patients (66.7%) after completion of chemotherapy and surgical intervention, suggesting the presence of MCRD. Before surgery, CTCs were detected in 83.3% of patients. After surgery, CTCs remained detectable in 66.7% of patients, while four patients became CTC-negative. Following surgery, cancer worry increased significantly in the control group (54.73±8.89; P=0.003), whereas it decreased significantly in the RUPIKA group (24.73±6.59; P<0.001). Between-group comparison showed significantly lower post-disclosure cancer worry among patients receiving RUPIKA-guided counselling compared with routine disclosure (t=8.992; P<0.001). Conclusion: This ongoing observational study demonstrates that RUPIKA—the first dedicated CTC-based MRD disclosure protocol—effectively mitigates cancer worry in breast cancer patients. Larger studies across diverse cancer cohorts are warranted. Know more Stay One Step Ahead of Cancer. Get the latest news and innovations from Actorius delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for regular updates Email* Yes, subscribe me for regular updates. * Subscribe

Preventing Stage 4 Cancer: India’s Revolutionary Blood Test | Dr. Nirmal Raut Expert Insights | August 9, 2022 Preventing Stage 4 Cancer: India’s Revolutionary Blood Test | Dr. Nirmal Raut Leading oncologists discuss OncoDiscover, India's first indigenous CTC blood test. By detecting Circulating Tumor Cells post-treatment, this affordable "Made in India" innovation catches cancer relapse before it reaches incurable Stage 4, dramatically changing the landscape of cancer care. Cancer metastasis (Stage 4) is the deadliest and often incurable phase of the disease. While mass screening the entire population is practically impossible, preventing early-stage cancers from progressing is now a reality thanks to OncoDiscover. In this video, leading experts—Dr. Jayant Khandare, Dr. Pankaj Chaturvedi (Director, ACTREC), and Dr. Nirmal Raut (Sr. Medical Oncologist)—explain the life-saving impact of India's first indigenous medical device for detecting Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs). Because CTCs evade traditional CT and MRI scans, this simple and highly affordable blood draw is used post-surgery or radiation to detect minimal residual disease. If CTCs are detected, oncologists can intervene with curative treatments before the disease reaches Stage 4. Clinically validated at Tata Memorial Hospital and approved by the Drug Controller General of India, this "Made in India" breakthrough drastically reduces patient costs while offering immense hope to families worldwide. Know more Stay One Step Ahead of Cancer. Get the latest news and innovations from Actorius delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for regular updates Email* Yes, subscribe me for regular updates. * Subscribe

Inverse 3D lab-on-chip microfilms for selective CTC capture from blood. Publications | July 15, 2024 Manuscript: Inverse 3D ‘lab-on-a-chip’ polymeric microfilms for selective capture of circulating tumor cells from patients' blood Inverse 3D lab-on-chip microfilms for selective CTC capture from blood. Engineering inverse 3D polymeric microfilms with controlled spatial hierarchy is both highly challenging and critically important at the intersection of biology and materials science. These structures hold significant potential for enhancing selective cell–surface interactions, including cell adhesion and growth. Protein-modified inverse 3D polymeric microfilms can further promote selective cell capture and adhesion. In this study, we report the fabrication of inverse 3D polymeric microfilms using composite polymeric–bioligand conjugated films designed to enhance the capture of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from the blood of cancer patients. The microfilms were developed using functionalized poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), mediated with the ligand transferrin. Protein immobilization on the films was achieved by conjugating transferrin (Tf), collagen (Co), and bovine serum albumin (BSA) to promote cellular adhesion and capture. The films were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR), and contact angle measurements, revealing micropores ranging from 18–26 μm. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) demonstrated enhanced cell attachment on the polymeric-blend microfilms, confirming improved cell adhesion, capture, and the ability of cells to proliferate within the 3D structure. The inverse 3D polymeric microfilms achieved an 80% cell capture efficiency with cultured cancer cells. In clinical utility, their CTC capturing efficiency was comparable to OncoDiscover® CTC enumeration technology. These inverse 3D polymeric microfilms represent a novel ‘lab-on-a-chip’ platform capable of enabling CTC enumeration for monitoring minimal residual disease (MRD), tracking metastatic progression, evaluating treatment response, and enabling early detection of relapse. View Manuscript Stay One Step Ahead of Cancer. Get the latest news and innovations from Actorius delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for regular updates Email* Yes, subscribe me for regular updates. * Subscribe

CTCs track progression across early-stage breast cancer molecular subtypes. Publications | June 6, 2023 ASCO 2023: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) detection and isolation in different subtypes of early-stage breast cancer patients from Bangladesh. A trial found CTCs in 60% of early-stage breast cancer patients, notably all HER2-positive cases, linking them to tumor grade. Send the next! Background Breast cancer is a highly heterogeneous pathophysiology characterized by poor outcomes. Due to the increasing incidence and disease progression rates and undefined relapse periods, reliable disease monitoring is a challenge and has remained an unmet need. Advancements in liquid biopsy have significantly enhanced our understanding of clinical oncology. CTC-based liquid biopsy is emerging as a reliable prognostic tool to predict various clinical indicators. Although extensively investigated in metastatic breast cancers, little is known about CTCs in early-stage breast cancers. CTCs with respect to different molecular subtypes of breast cancer in early-stage breast cancer patients is evaluated. Methods In this prospective clinical trial (CMC 59.27.0000.013.19 PG.009.2022/262), 40 early-stage patients with luminal (A + B, 33.33%), HER2-positive (12.8%), triple-negative (12.8%), and undetermined (41.07%) subtypes were recruited. CTCs were isolated in 1.5 ml blood using the Drug Controller General of India approved OncoDiscover CTC test. This platform contains affinity-based magnetic nanoparticles to mediate EpCAM-based CTC isolation. CTCs were detected as CK18+, DAPI+, and CD45- cells using a fluorescence detection-based automated digital imaging platform. Results CTCs were detected in 60% of patients with a mean CTC count of 1 cell / 1.5 ml blood. Among total positive patients, the luminal subtype was the least positive (46%), followed by TNBC (60%) and undetermined (62.5%) subgroups, while all HER2-positive patients showed the presence of CTCs. Besides individual cells, CTC clusters were detected in 12.5% of patients, and they were equally distributed in luminal and HER2-positive subpopulations. When analyzed on the scale of tumor grade, grade I patients did not show the presence of CTCs, while 58.33% of grade II patients had ≥ 1 CTC. All grade III patients showed the presence of ≥ 1 CTC. CTC count was high among CTC-positive grade II patients (average 2 CTCs) and correlated well with the presence of CTC clusters in these patients. Patients who had surgical intervention had a low CTC burden compared to patients who did not have a surgical resection. 75% of treatment-naive patients showed the presence of CTCs, while 58% of patients receiving chemotherapy alone showed the presence of 1 CTC. 50% of patients who had surgery followed by CT + RT showed the presence of 1 CTC. Conclusions The presence of CTCs may suggest the biological progression of disease in early-stage BC patients. CTCs detected in all HER2-positive patients suggested the high shedding nature of these tumors, which correlates well with their reported migratory tendency. The presence of CTCs did not show a clear correlation with the treatment regimen. However, this data is based on a single time point and needs longitudinal correlation with CTCs on a larger sample size. Clinical Trial Information 59.27.0000.013.19 PG.009.2022/262. Know more Stay One Step Ahead of Cancer. Get the latest news and innovations from Actorius delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for regular updates Email* Yes, subscribe me for regular updates. * Subscribe

PD-L1 on CTCs and ctDNA enables real-time monitoring of breast cancer progression. Publications | June 3, 2025 PD-L1 expression on circulating tumor cells and CTC clusters as a minimal cellular disease in breast cancer patients. This breast cancer study shows high prevalence of PD-L1–positive circulating tumor cells, supporting their role in minimal residual disease and metastasis risk. Background Tumor-derived components, such as dual biomarkers including circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and circulating tumor cells (CTCs), provide comprehensive real-time insights into the tumor microenvironment. Minimal cellular residual disease (MCRD), dynamic cell surface protein overexpression, residual tumor burden after curative-intent resection, and decisions regarding adjunct therapy or therapy de-escalation are critical aspects of patient management. Similar to the PD-L1 combined positive score (CPS) in tissue samples, PD-L1 expression on CTCs represents a promising dynamic biomarker, particularly in the context of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). EMT may contribute to immune evasion by deactivating T cells, thereby facilitating micro-metastatic progression, which remains challenging to detect and manage. In this study, we report PD-L1 expression as a dynamic biomarker on circulating tumor cells across early- to late-stage breast cancer patients. Methods In this retrospective analysis, peripheral blood samples from 1,294 breast cancer patients were evaluated for the presence of CTCs, PD-L1 expression on CTCs, and CTC clusters. CTCs were enumerated using the OncoDiscover platform, approved by CDSCO-India, from 1.5 mL of peripheral blood. The system consists of a multi-component magneto-nanosystem mediated by anti-epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) antibodies. CTCs were identified based on EpCAM⁺, CK18⁺, DAPI⁺, and CD45⁻ markers. PD-L1 expression on CTCs was quantified using linear intensity gradients of fluorescence signals acquired through an automated Zeiss microscope. Additionally, a computational model was developed to evaluate mean CTC distribution, perform regression analysis, and assess CTC predictability. Results CTC counts ranged from 1 to 20 per 1.5 mL of blood. At baseline analysis, 73.20% (n = 978) of patients had ≥1 CTC. Among patients with detectable CTCs, 87.69% (n = 406 of 463) exhibited PD-L1 expression. The highest proportion of total CTCs (~21.61%, n = 1,125) was observed in the 41–50-year age group. The highest frequency of CTC clusters (~29.08%, n = 41) and PD-L1–positive CTCs (~42.91%, n = 324) was observed in the 51–60-year age group. CTC clusters were detected in 2.71% (n = 141) of total patients. The mean CTC count (including clusters) was 3.90, while the mean PD-L1–positive CTC count was 3.40. The computational model demonstrated a correlation between blood-based outcomes and normal probability scores. Conclusions The observed inter-patient heterogeneity suggests potential biological and pharmacodynamic relevance of both CTCs and PD-L1 expression. Larger clinical studies are warranted to further evaluate PD-L1 expression on CTCs, particularly in early-stage cancers. Patients with minimal cellular residual disease, despite the absence of radiographic evidence, may represent a higher-risk group for metastasis progression and may benefit from enhanced stratification strategies. View Publication Stay One Step Ahead of Cancer. Get the latest news and innovations from Actorius delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for regular updates Email* Yes, subscribe me for regular updates. * Subscribe

Non-hemolytic adsorbents for toxin isolation, disease tracking & therapy efficacy. Patents | October 20, 2025 Non-hemolytic compositions and methods of use for recovering disease-causing toxic constituents in the blood A non-hemolytic adsorbent composition designed to isolate, quantify, and remove disease-causing toxic constituents from blood, supporting disease identification, monitoring, and therapeutic efficacy validation. Patent Details The present disclosure relates to non-hemolytic adsorbent compositions useful for isolating, enumerating, accounting, and removing the disease-causing toxic constituents in the blood. The said compositions are useful in identifying the disease, disease status, and validating the efficacy of the therapeutic treatment being administered for the treatment of the disease. Methods for isolating, enumerating, accounting, and removing disease-causing toxic constituents in the blood as well as monitoring the disease status and validating the efficacy of the therapeutic treatment being administered for the treatment of the disease are disclosed. Related patent documents US20210106742 WO/2021/074786 CA3154234 IN202044044657 View Patent Stay One Step Ahead of Cancer. Get the latest news and innovations from Actorius delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for regular updates Email* Yes, subscribe me for regular updates. * Subscribe