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- Manuscript: Selective Cell Isolation by Transferrin Functionalized Silane– Carbon Soot Mediated Superhydrophobic Micropatterns | Actorius Innovations & Research Co.
Micropatterned surfaces enable selective cancer cell capture and real-time monitoring. Publications January 17, 2018 Manuscript: Selective Cell Isolation by Transferrin Functionalized Silane– Carbon Soot Mediated Superhydrophobic Micropatterns Transferrin-functionalized wettability micropatterns enable selective cancer cell capture and real-time monitoring for diagnostics and recurrence detection. Surfaces that facilitate selective cell adhesion using specific targeting moieties have significant implications in diagnostics, tissue engineering, and high-throughput screening. However, designing robust and spatially confined micropatterns for selective cell isolation on portable platforms remains highly challenging. Here, wettable silane (Si) micropatterns with covalently attached transferrin (Tf) for targeting Tf-overexpressing cancer cells are reported. These micropatterns are separated by carbon soot–based superhydrophobic regions, which transform the targeting sites into surface tension–confined “microwells.” These microwells facilitate the capture of human colorectal carcinoma cells (HCT116) and human cervical adenocarcinoma cells (HeLa) by confining their attachment to the wettable regions, thereby making the isolation and spotting of targeted cells more efficient. In addition, owing to its transparent nature, the Tf-conjugated wettability-based patterned chip enables real-time optical monitoring of cell adhesion, cell growth, and cell behavior. The specific cell isolation enabled by such surfaces has potential applications in developing cancer recurrence monitoring tests. Advanced Material Interfaces 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
- Assessment of PD-L1 Expression on Circulating Tumor Cells and Clusters in Gastric Cancer Patients | Actorius Innovations & Research Co.
PD-L1 CTCs and clusters in gastric cancer support MRD detection and recurrence monitoring. Publications November 3, 2025 Assessment of PD-L1 Expression on Circulating Tumor Cells and Clusters in Gastric Cancer Patients Circulating tumor cells with PD-L1 expression and clusters are common in gastric cancer, indicating minimal residual disease and recurrence risk. Authors Khandare J, Ghadyalpatil N, Raja T, Velukuru S, Jadhav V, Satape R, Shinde S, Ashturkar A, Dattatreya P, Vasudevan A Affiliations: Actorius Innovations and Research, Pune, Maharashtra, India Apollo Cancer Institute, Hyderabad, Telangana, India Apollo Cancer Centre, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India Aster CMI Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India Renova Soumya Cancer Center, Hyderabad, Telangana, India Introduction Gastric cancer is associated with a high mortality rate, primarily due to late-stage diagnosis, which reduces the effectiveness of treatments such as surgery and results in poor five-year survival outcomes. The rate of metastasis in early-stage gastric cancer (EGC) varies, with reported lymph node metastasis rates ranging from approximately 10% to over 23%, depending on factors such as tumor invasion depth. Although most EGC cases do not initially present with distant metastasis, a substantial proportion of patients are diagnosed at advanced, metastatic stages. In this study, we evaluated gastrointestinal cancer patients for minimal cellular residual disease using circulating tumor cells (CTCs) expressing PD-L1 and the presence of CTC clusters. Methods A total of 58 gastric cancer samples were retrospectively analyzed. CTCs were isolated using the CDSCO India–approved OncoDiscover® CTC Test, which employs immunomagnetic enrichment with anti-EpCAM antibodies. CTCs were identified through immunocytochemical staining as CK18⁺, DAPI⁺, and CD45⁻ cells. Fluorescence imaging was performed using a Zeiss Axio Observer 7 microscope, and signal intensities were quantified. PD-L1 expression on CTCs was also evaluated. Statistical analyses summarized total CTC counts, PD-L1–positive CTCs, and the presence of CTC clusters. Results Among the 58 gastric cancer patient samples analyzed, CTCs were detected in 62.1% (36/58) of cases, while 37.9% (22/58) were CTC-negative. Most samples (93.1%) were collected at baseline, and 6.9% at follow-up. Among CTC-positive cases, PD-L1 expression was observed in 51.7%, while 8.7% were PD-L1-negative. CTC clusters were identified in 83.3% (30/36) of CTC-positive patients. Regarding CTC count distribution, 31.0% of patients had one CTC, 18.9% had two, and 12.07% had three CTCs. For PD-L1–positive CTCs, 14.3% of patients had zero detectable CTCs, 51.4% had one, 25.7% had two, and 8.6% had three CTCs. The mean CTC count across all samples was 1.0, the mean number of PD-L1–positive CTCs was 0.8, and the mean cluster count was 0.1. Demographic analysis showed male predominance (61.1%), with the most represented age group being 61–70 years (29.6%), followed by 41–50 years (22.2%) and 51–60 years (20.4%). Conclusions CTCs, particularly those expressing PD-L1 and forming clusters, are prevalent in gastric cancer patients and may serve as valuable biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis. Their detection may help assess minimal cellular residual disease (MCRD) and identify patients at risk of recurrence. 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
- ISLB 2025 | 1-3 November 2025 | Actorius Innovations & Research Co.
Actorius ISLB 2025 | 1-3 November 2025 Events November 3, 2025 ISLB 2025 | 1-3 November 2025 Actorius ISLB 2025 | 1-3 November 2025 Some glimpses from ISLB 2025 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
- ASCO 2026: Continual depletion of circulating tumor cells using an automated device enriched with affinity glass bead substrates in breast and CRC patient's whole blood. | Actorius Innovations & Research Co.
Actorius Innovations at ASCO Annual Meeting 2026 Publications March 17, 2026 ASCO 2026: Continual depletion of circulating tumor cells using an automated device enriched with affinity glass bead substrates in breast and CRC patient's whole blood. Automated OncoMetastat device captures and depletes CTCs in colorectal and breast cancer, aiding detection of minimal residual disease and metastasis risk. Abstract Background Despite no radiological or pathological evidence of disease, about 25–50% of stage II–III colorectal cancer (CRC) and early-stage breast cancer (BC) patients are known to experience recurrence. The presence of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) with epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) traits represents aggressive systemic disease. Through autonomous oncogenic activation, epithelial cells acquire invasive properties that enable metastasis. A high EMT score combined with immune checkpoint expression, such as PD-L1, may allow tumor cells to evade immune surveillance. Following curative-intent surgery and therapy, CTCs represent minimal cellular residual disease (MCRD) and serve as strong predictors of recurrence. In this study, we present an automated extracorporeal device designed to capture, analyze, and deplete CTCs for further clinical evaluation. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 66 patients, including stage II–III CRC patients (n = 41) and breast cancer patients (n = 25). Whole blood samples were processed to deplete CTCs using the OncoMetastat device. Among the CRC patients, 12 were female and 29 were male. The average age of BC and CRC patients was 53.6 and 58 years, respectively. The device consists of a spiral channel (127 × 85 × 5 mm; spiral span: 66 mm; width: 4 mm) 3D-printed using biocompatible resin and filled with anti-EpCAM antibody–conjugated glass beads (GB). The system includes a controller and a peristaltic pump that circulates blood in and out of the spiral channels. Vibrational energy induces motion in the glass beads to enhance cell capture. Hemolysis, protein binding, leukocyte adsorption, and CTC capture efficiency were evaluated. CTC capture efficiency was compared with the CDSCO-approved OncoDiscover CTC technology in India. Blood samples were pumped into the device and incubated with affinity-enriched glass beads for 30 minutes under constant vibration (200 Hz) to enhance CTC capture and prevent blood stagnation. CTCs were confirmed using CK18⁺, DAPI⁺, and CD45⁻ markers and analyzed using an automated fluorescence microscope. Results A total of 48 CTCs were detected in 58% (38/66) of patients. CTC positivity was slightly higher in breast cancer patients (60.0%) compared with CRC patients (56.1%). The mean CTC distribution was 0.73 overall, with CRC and BC both showing mean values of 0.73 and 0.72, respectively. The negative predictive value (NPV) was determined to be 0.86 (86%). Automated scanning demonstrated 100% efficiency in detecting CTCs. Low leukocyte adhesion was observed with anti-EpCAM–coated glass beads. White blood cell (WBC) counts varied by cancer type, with mean counts of 4.9 × 10⁶/mL for breast cancer and 3.9 × 10⁶/mL for colorectal cancer, both lower than healthy controls (6.9 × 10⁶/mL). Clinically insignificant hemolysis (<1%) and minimal protein binding (~1.5%) were observed in the spiral channel. Glass beads subjected to vibrational energy demonstrated enhanced CTC sequestration, achieving over 90% cell capture efficiency compared with vibration-free conditions. Conclusions This study demonstrates efficient CTC depletion in 66 CRC and breast cancer patients using an automated extracorporeal device. Early-stage CRC and BC patients with detectable CTCs may have a higher risk of developing distant metastasis. Therefore, following complete remission, the use of an extracorporeal device to deplete CTCs could potentially reduce the risk of metastatic progression. 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
- OncoDiscover Lab Walkthrough | Actorius Innovations & Research Co.
OncoDiscover Lab Walkthrough Expert Insights August 9, 2022 OncoDiscover Lab Walkthrough OncoDiscover Lab Walkthrough 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
- Startup Mantra: Making cancer detection more accessible and affordable to people | Actorius Innovations & Research Co.
Making cancer detection more accessible and affordable to people Press Release August 24, 2019 Startup Mantra: Making cancer detection more accessible and affordable to people Launching ‘OncoDiscover Liquid Biopsy Test’, a minimally invasive test which can be performed multiple times requiring 1.5ml blood volume... Actorius Innovations and Research Pvt. Ltd. Read full release 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
- ASCO 2023: Effect of circulating tumor cells distribution in treatment naive and treated patients with advance stage breast cancer on disease burden. | Actorius Innovations & Research Co.
CTCs track residual disease and therapy response in breast cancer patients. Publications June 6, 2023 ASCO 2023: Effect of circulating tumor cells distribution in treatment naive and treated patients with advance stage breast cancer on disease burden. A study of 417 breast cancer patients shows tracking circulating tumor cells (CTCs) effectively monitors therapy response and recurrence risk. Background Breast malignancies are a leading cause of cancer-related mortalities and show an ascending incidence rate. Despite advancements in our understanding of the disease, its clinical outcome is often dismal. This largely remains owing to the characteristic wide window of relapse, spanning months to decades after primary treatment. Therefore, continuous monitoring of the disease is an offered choice to detect metastatic progression and recurrence. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have emerged as a powerful prognostic tool to predict the disease outcome in many epithelial cancers. CTCs are a real-time surrogate biomarker accounting for minimal residual disease (MRD) which is often missed in CT PET scanning. This leads to a progression of metastasis when the patient is often considered as 'clinically disease free'. Here, we analyzed the presence of CTCs in treatment-naive and chemo-recipient breast cancer patients. Methods In this retrospective study on 417 breast cancer patients, CTCs were isolated from 1.5 ml of blood using the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) 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 based on an automated digital imaging platform. Results 42.6% (n=178) of patients were clinically at a progressive stage (stage II and III) and treatment-naive. On the other hand, 47.4% of patients received treatment including surgery and chemotherapy. CTCs were not observed in 5.6% (n=10) of the treatment-naive population, while 32% (n=75) of patients who received therapy did not show CTCs. The mean CTC number in treatment-naive patients was 15, while the mean CTC count in patients receiving therapy was drastically reduced to 2. This implied that therapy effectively countered the tumor progression and reduced the shedding of tumor cells in circulation. The distribution of CTC in treatment-naive patients exhibited a bimodal trend centered at values of 10 and 50, suggesting two distinct populations of patients with respect to CTC count. CTC count did not show any correlation with the age in both population groups. Surprisingly, CTC count in younger patients (20-50 years) was 50% higher compared to the older population (50-75 years). Conclusions The presence of CTCs in treatment-naive, progressive breast cancer patients indicated biologically aggravated disease. Although therapeutic intervention drastically reduced the CTC burden, their presence in a large population was suggestive of an MRD and the likelihood of recurrence after discontinuation of therapy. A distinct pattern of CTC occurrences in Tx naive and Tx recipient patients suggested that CTCs can be an important clinical indicator to monitor the therapy response, progression, and residual disease. 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
- ASCO 2024: Effect of circulating tumor cells in clinically stable patients on the conundrum of recurrence with cellular residual disease. | Actorius Innovations & Research Co.
CTC and PD-L1 detection reveals residual disease despite clear radiological scans. Publications June 4, 2024 ASCO 2024: Effect of circulating tumor cells in clinically stable patients on the conundrum of recurrence with cellular residual disease. CTC detection with PD-L1 expression reveals residual disease despite negative radiological findings in treated cancer patients. Background Despite no evidence of disease by radiological imaging, up to 30% of breast cancer cases are known to relapse after treatment with curative intent. The presence of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in stage I–II cancer patients signals the activation of extravasation and invasion processes leading to micro-metastasis and may result in poor outcomes. CTCs in blood circulation at any stage of cancer indicate detectable minimal cellular disease (MCD). Thus, the longitudinal investigation of patients with such biomarkers remains highly important for predicting recurrence, therapy escalation, and dose modifications. The expression of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) on CTCs is a dynamic biomarker, and these cells may escape elimination by the immune system, indicating progression toward a metastatic phenotype. Methods Retrospectively, a cohort of 20 cancer patients (including lung, colorectal, breast, stomach, etc.) who had recently undergone treatment were investigated for the presence of CTCs using the CDSCO-approved OncoDiscover platform. The platform contains multi-component systems conjugated with anti-EpCAM antibodies on magnetic nanoparticles. All patients clinically represented stable disease based on previous radiological findings. CTC enumeration was performed using CD45-, EpCAM+, and CK18+ markers, along with the evaluation of PD-L1 overexpression in 1.5 ml of peripheral blood using automated motorized Zeiss fluorescence microscopy. Results Despite no radiological evidence of disease and clinically stable status, 75% (n = 15) of the selected patients showed at least one CTC. Among them, 55% (n = 11) had one CTC, 5% (n = 1) had two CTCs, and 15% (n = 3) had three CTCs. In addition, 50% (n = 10) of patients demonstrated PD-L1 expression on CTCs, while one patient exhibited a CTC cluster. Conclusions Patients showed circulating residual disease (CRD) despite clinically stable disease, indicating possible progression from localized to secondary disease. Longitudinal monitoring of CTCs with PD-L1 expression may reveal real-time residual disease, progression, regression, and actual response to treatment. CRD monitoring can improve curative outcomes by potentially enhancing progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in solid cancers. 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
- ASCO 2022: CTCs as a biomarker for monitoring: Disease progression, treatment response, and minimal residual disease. | Actorius Innovations & Research Co.
CTC monitoring tracks therapy response and disease progression in advanced cancers. Publications June 7, 2022 ASCO 2022: CTCs as a biomarker for monitoring: Disease progression, treatment response, and minimal residual disease. Study of 127 patients shows CTCs are a dynamic biomarker for monitoring disease progression and therapy response in advanced epithelial cancers. Background To analyze the role of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) as a confirmatory personalized biomarker for monitoring disease progression, disease burden, and minimal residual disease in epithelial origin cancers. Methods In this retrospective study, 127 patients with colorectal, breast, and ovarian cancer at stage III and IV were analyzed. The patients were at various stages of intensive chemo and radiotherapy while the CTCs were isolated and enumerated from 1.5 ml of blood. The decision to continue chemotherapy or change to oral metronomic therapy was based on the presence of circulating tumor cells in Stage III. While in stage IV, serial measurement of CTCs guided therapy. CTCs were isolated using the OncoDiscover platform possessing EpCAM antibody-based immunomagnetic targeting of magnetic nanoparticles after RBC lysis. CTCs were imaged and identified as CK18+ and CD45- cells showing a well-defined nucleus using a motorized fluorescence microscope operational with a monochrome camera. CTCs were enumerated using automated image analysis software and counts were expressed as the number per 1.5 ml of blood. Results In this retrospective study, we analyzed blood samples from 127 patients with advanced-stage epithelial cancers (breast: 50%, ovarian: 27%, colorectal: 23%) for the presence of CTCs. Amongst those, 52% showed the presence of CTCs (breast: 52%, ovarian: 46%, colorectal: 58%). The CTC count ranged between 1-5 / 1.5 ml of blood with mean and median values of 2 and 1. Among the CTC positive population, the majority had a CTC count of 1 (44.4%), while more than 2 CTCs were observed in 11% of the population. CTC clusters were detected in 13% of the population, which predominantly were stage IV patients. 67% among the follow-up patients showed a decrease in CTC count from the baseline due to the prescribed treatment, while 22% of patients showed an increase in CTC count from the baseline. 11% of patients did not show a change in CTC count from the baseline. When CTC count was investigated as an independent variable to monitor the therapeutic response, it correlated well with positive or negative outcomes. In a few representative cases, the reduction of CTC numbers from the basal value was indicative of effective treatment. Exceptionally, in a representative colorectal cancer case, a PET scan showed no primary as well as secondary tumor burden, but the presence of CTCs in blood led to further investigating an abdominal MRI that indicated multiple liver lesions suggesting micro-metastasis. Subsequent to SIRT treatment, the patient showed complete tumor regression and the absence of CTCs in peripheral blood. Conclusions Our data suggest that CTCs can serve as a dynamic intermittent biomarker for monitoring disease progression in advanced stages and assessing the therapeutic response, thus emphasizing the role of CTCs in personalized cancer management. 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
- ASCO 2024: Effect of circulating tumor cells (CTC) and CTC clusters with PD-L1 dynamic biomarker on cellular burden in patients with ovarian cancer. | Actorius Innovations & Research Co.
CTCs and PD-L1 profiling support MRD detection and therapy decisions in ovarian cancer. Publications June 3, 2024 ASCO 2024: Effect of circulating tumor cells (CTC) and CTC clusters with PD-L1 dynamic biomarker on cellular burden in patients with ovarian cancer. CTCs with PD-L1 expression in ovarian cancer reveal minimal residual disease and may guide immunotherapy and early metastasis monitoring. Background In the precision oncology era, monitoring treatment response using circulating blood-based biomarkers such as circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) is rapidly being evaluated and established. The leading cause of mortality in ovarian cancer patients is delayed diagnosis and the inability to effectively select patients for targeted therapies, including immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) agents. Treatment for ovarian cancer usually involves a combination of surgery and chemotherapy. However, postoperative resection and therapy with curative intent often fail to account for minimal cellular disease (MCD). The dissemination of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) represents minimal residual disease (MRD), which may diffuse and cause micro-metastasis through epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and bio-mechanistic activation in blood circulation. Simultaneous detection of overexpression of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) on CTCs as a dynamic biomarker may be useful for assessing patients for immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. Methods In a retrospective analysis of real-world data, peripheral blood samples from 75 ovarian cancer patients were analyzed for the presence of CTCs, with and without PD-L1 expression, and for the presence of CTC clusters. CTCs were detected using the CDSCO-approved OncoDiscover platform from 1.5 ml of peripheral blood. The platform is a multifunctional magneto-nanosystem mediated by anti-epithelial cellular adhesion molecule (EpCAM) antibodies. CTCs were identified as positive when EpCAM+, CK+, PD-L1+, DAPI+, and CD45- markers were present. PD-L1 expression on CTCs was analyzed based on the linear intensity gradients of fluorescence signals using image acquisition on an automated Zeiss microscope. Results Baseline sample analysis showed that 86% (n = 65) of patients had at least one CTC per 1.5 ml of blood. The CTC distribution ranged from 1 to 9 CTCs. Among the patients with CTCs, 46.15% (n = 30) showed PD-L1 expression. Notably, the highest number of CTCs (~26.7%, n = 23) was observed in the 41–50 age group. Additionally, 8% (n = 6) of the total patients showed the presence of CTC clusters. The presence of CTCs with PD-L1 expression and CTC clusters did not show a correlation with factors such as staging, follow-ups, metastasis, or disease-free survival (DFS) status. Conclusions We observed the presence of minimal cellular disease (MCD) and minimal residual disease (MRD) in ovarian cancer patients despite treatment with curative intent. Detection of CTCs, CTC clusters, and PD-L1 overexpression as real-time dynamic biomarkers may help assess early metastasis, disease progression, and regression. These biomarkers may also support the selection of patients suitable for immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy when tissue samples are inadequate or unavailable, potentially improving 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
- ISMRC 2025 | 7-9 May, 2025 | Actorius Innovations & Research Co.
Actorius at ISMRC 2025 Events May 9, 2025 ISMRC 2025 | 7-9 May, 2025 Actorius at ISMRC 2025 Dr. Jayant Khandare with Dr. Catherine Alix-Panabières , PhD Dr ( Associate Professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Montpellier, Director of the Laboratory Rare Circulating Human Cells (LCCRH) à l'Université et CHU de Montpellier) 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
- ASCO 2022: Correlation of circulating tumor cells as a positive interventional biomarker in cancer patients | Actorius Innovations & Research Co.
Ayurveda therapy reduces CTC counts and improves quality of life in cancer patients. Publications June 7, 2022 ASCO 2022: Correlation of circulating tumor cells as a positive interventional biomarker in cancer patients Ayurveda therapy significantly reduced CTC counts and improved quality of life in a study of 72 patients across 17 cancer types. Background Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are a predictive biomarker for accounting for disease progression and for minimal residual disease (MRD). The effect of conventional anticancer therapy on CTC count is well documented; however, there is a paucity of data related to the effect of CAM-based modalities on CTC count in cancer patients. This study provides a preliminary observation about the effect of Ayurveda therapy on CTC count. Methods The retrospective study involved the stratification of 72 cancer patients undergoing cancer and maintenance treatment in a non-conventional, Ayurveda cancer treatment center in India. For monitoring of prognosis in cancer patients, CTC count was assessed in patients attending the Rasayu Cancer Clinic. Seventeen cancer types were included, namely, breast cancer, cervix and ovarian cancer, bladder, lung, head and neck squamous carcinoma, follicular thyroid, diffuse B-cell lymphoma, Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s, colorectal, hepatocellular, stomach with abdominal metastasis, metastatic prostate cancer, SCC with lung and skeletal metastasis, etc. A total of 33 (46%) male and 39 (54.1%) female patients of various types and stages were analyzed for the presence of CTCs retrospectively. CTCs were isolated and enumerated from 1.5 ml of the patient’s blood sample using the OncoDiscover Liquid Biopsy Technology platform enriched with an anti-EpCAM antibody immunomagnetic kit, approved by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI). CTCs were confirmed for cytokeratin 18+ (CK18), DAPI+, and CD45-. Subsequently, CTCs were imaged using a Zeiss Axio Observer 7 fluorescence microscope. In 28 patients (50%), CTCs were accounted for at both pre- and post-treatment over a duration of 3-6 months. Twenty-eight patients were assessed for quality of life measured by the FACT-G questionnaire. The outcome was quantified for clinicopathological parameters: age/gender, cancer types, and CTC distribution. Results The mean and median CTC distribution was observed to be 15.34 and 12.5, respectively. Eight percent of patients showed the absence of any CTCs (6 subjects: 1 male and 5 females), while 32 males (96%) and 34 females (87%) showed the presence of CTCs. The correlation coefficient of CTC presence in males and females was significant at 0.4799 (p < 0.05). The Ayurveda Rasayana therapy showed a significant reduction in post-interventional CTC count (-3.94 ± 1.2) (p = 0.02). In addition, this group of patients also showed significant improvement in health-related quality of life as measured by the FACT-G questionnaire (p < 0.05). Conclusions CTCs are a validated predictive biomarker for accounting for minimal residual disease, both in pre- and post-cancer treatments. The enumeration of CTCs represents an effective prognostic biomarker in assessing disease progression. A reduction in CTC count was seen to be associated with an improvement in health-related quality of life (QoL), which needs to be investigated further to establish a firm correlation. 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
