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- 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
- ASCO 2022: A feasibility study of EMF (erlotinib+methotrexate+5-fluorouracil) regimen in recurrent HNSCC and role of CTCs in assessment of outcomes. | Actorius Innovations & Research Co.
EMF triplet therapy and CTC monitoring improve HNSCC outcomes and predict response. Publications June 7, 2022 ASCO 2022: A feasibility study of EMF (erlotinib+methotrexate+5-fluorouracil) regimen in recurrent HNSCC and role of CTCs in assessment of outcomes. A phase II trial shows EMF triplet therapy is a safe, effective option for HNSCC, with CTCs serving as a promising biomarker for therapy response. Background Head and neck cancer is a huge burden in South East Asia with frequent relapse after curative therapy, while the rest present in advanced unresectable stages. Financial constraints for targeted and immunotherapy make it inaccessible for the bulk of the population. Thus, a low-cost but efficacious regimen is highly implicated. We assessed if the readily available triplet therapy of EMF is superior in terms of extending life and maintaining quality of life, along with the evaluation of CTCs as a predictive biomarker in such patients. Methods This was a single-arm, phase II, investigator-initiated interventional study, wherein 35 patients were enrolled. Platinum-resistant/refractory patients of HNSCC were treated with a combination of erlotinib 150 mg daily, methotrexate 40 mg/m2, and 5-fluorouracil 500 mg/m2 (d1, d8) q28 days till progression or unacceptable toxicities. The primary endpoint was the overall response rate (ORR) at 3 months; additional endpoints were disease control rate (DCR) at 3 months, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), safety, and patient-reported quality of life (QOL). The role of CTCs in gauging the responders and non-responders was monitored using anti-Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule antibody-based enrichment on the OncoDiscover Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) approved platform. Results The ORR and DCR at 3 months were 45.7% and 68.5%, respectively. The median PFS was 5 months (95% CI: 3.9-6 months) and median OS was 9 months (95% CI: 7.4-10.5 months). The 3- and 6-month PFS rates were 86 ± 6% and 45 ± 9%, respectively, while OS rates at 3 and 6 months were 91 ± 5% and 68 ± 8%, respectively. Rash, mucositis, and fatigue were common adverse events occurring in 23 (65%), 14 (40%), and 9 (25.7%) patients respectively. The grade 3 events seen were rash in 5 (14.2%) and diarrhea in 2 (5.7%). Clinically significant improvement was seen in domains of role functioning, social functioning, fatigue, pain and global health status, swallowing, dryness of mouth, and feeling ill. The mean CTC count at baseline was 0.90 ± 1.1 / 1.5 ml of blood. Responders showed a decline in levels from 1.19 ± 0.25 to 0.33 ± 0.48, while non-responders had an increasing trend: 0.29 ± 0.48 to 1 ± 0.10 at 3 months (p = 0.010); with concordance rates with response being 52.9%. Additionally, CTC clearance at 3 months had a numerically better PFS of ~6 months (95% CI: 4.72-7.72) and OS of 10 months (95% CI: 2.3-5.65) vs 4 months (95% CI: 2.3-5.65), p = 0.258, and 8 months (95% CI: 4.3-11.6), p = 0.203 in those with persistence of CTCs. Conclusions The triplet regimen of EMF is a feasible, safe therapeutic option with favorable response rates and improved QOL in patients with platinum-resistant/refractory HNSCC. CTCs have a promising futuristic role as a predictive biomarker and can be extrapolated in the clinical upfront setting too. Clinical Trial Information CTRI/2020/02/023378. 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 2020: Correlation of CTCs with disease progression in Indian oral cancer patients. | Actorius Innovations & Research Co.
CTC counts correlate with OSCC stage and aggressive pathological features in India. Publications March 15, 2020 ASCO 2020: Correlation of CTCs with disease progression in Indian oral cancer patients. In 230 OSCC patients, CTC counts correlated with cancer stage and aggressive features, proving CTCs are a reliable marker for disease stratification. Background Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is the leading cancer in India, with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) as the most frequent subtype. OSCC is classified as a locoregional disease, and its increased frequency is attributed to a lack of effective biomarkers compared to other epithelial cancers. At the time of diagnosis, above 50% of cases present with advanced-stage disease and are predisposed to treatment failure despite appropriate intervention. Thus, early diagnosis of OSCC can significantly reduce the disease burden. Here, we describe a regulatory-approved method to establish the presence of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in Indian OSCC patients and its positive correlation with various clinicopathological parameters, suggesting the potential use of CTCs as a significant parameter to stratify oral cancer with respect to disease advancement. Methods In a cross-sectional observational study, 230 OSCC patients at different pathological stages of the disease and treatment modes were enrolled. CTCs were isolated using the approved OncoDiscover liquid biopsy technology (approved by the Drug Controller General of India), a platform based on immunomagnetic CTC enumeration. CTCs were detected for CK18 presence and well-defined, DAPI-stained nuclei. Enumerated CTCs were subsequently analyzed for various clinicopathological parameters such as pathological stage (pStage), extra-capsular spread (ECS), lymphovascular emboli (LVE), perineural invasion (PNI), and depth of invasion (DOI). CTC cut-off values were obtained to differentiate early vs. advanced stages with respect to different clinical stages and parameters. Results CTCs of OSCC patients correlated positively with cancer stages (clinical as well as pathological) as well as aggressive pathological features. In the presence of aggressive pathological features that often suggest a poor disease outcome, we observed a 25–50% increase in CTC numbers. Early-stage, treatment-naive patients had a lower number of CTCs. The mean CTC number in advanced-stage patients was 50% higher than in early-stage OSCC patients. Conclusions Considering the positive correlation of CTC numbers with various pathophysiological features, CTCs can be contemplated as a reliable parameter to predict disease outcome in oral cancer. The consistent presence of CTCs across all disease stages also suggests the probable nature of OSCC as a biological systemic disease. Clinical Trial Information CTRI/2018/03/012905. 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
- TEDx Talk — Capturing cancer cells-Uncovering secrets for treatments by Aravindan Vasudevan – CEO, Actorius Innovations | Actorius Innovations & Research Co.
TEDx Talk — by Aravindan Vasudevan – CEO, Actorius Innovations and Research Expert Insights February 28, 2023 TEDx Talk — Capturing cancer cells-Uncovering secrets for treatments by Aravindan Vasudevan – CEO, Actorius Innovations Aravindan discusses innovative cancer research in early detection, precision medicine, tumor modeling, and liquid biopsy for advanced cancer insights. Describing cancer cell as the ‘Perfect Villain’ and focusing on how we could help eradicate its conception altogether, Aravindan talks about how they have successfully been able to research and develop various ways to detect early, decode cancer diversity with precision medicine, mimic the tumor microenvironment and liquid biopsy that helps find markers of cancer that has travelled through the bloodstream. Aravindan Vasudevan is the co-founder of Actorius Innovations and Research. At Actorius, Aravindan was part of the team which developed the OncoDiscover – Circulating Tumor Cell Technology, India’s first indigenously developed DCGi approved IVD technology. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. TEDx Talk Link: https://www.ted.com/talks/aravindan_vasudevan_capt Watch video 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 | Actorius Innovations & Research Co.
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
- ASCO 2019: Correlation of CTCs with disease progression in Indian oral cancer patients | Actorius Innovations & Research Co.
OncoDiscover: affordable, rapid CTC platform for HNC patients in developing nations. Publications June 4, 2019 ASCO 2019: Correlation of CTCs with disease progression in Indian oral cancer patients "OncoDiscover" is a fast, highly sensitive, and affordable (~$120) CTC nanosystem validated in 100 HNC patients to meet global medical needs. Background Liquid biopsy technologies are often unaffordable and unavailable in developing countries, despite these regions having the highest cancer burden and mortality rates. Current circulating tumor cell (CTC) technologies face significant clinical concerns, including non-specificity, low efficiency, high blood volume requirements, long turnaround times, and exorbitant costs (~$900–$1,400). We report an extremely low-cost, innovative nanosystem for the rapid enumeration of CTCs with higher specificity and efficiency. Methods We designed a nanosystem mediated by the conjugation of anti-EpCAM through a multi-reactive glutathione spacer, a carbon allotrope, and an amine-terminated dendrimer. The platform was evaluated for enhanced aqueous dispersibility and increased interaction with CTCs for rapid isolation and enumeration in 100 head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. These patients had various primary tumor sub-sites, including the oral cavity, larynx, hypopharynx, oropharynx, nasopharynx, salivary gland, and thyroid. The captured cells were immunostained, and the optimal fluorescence acquisition intensity was validated by accounting for CTCs with CK18 protein expression. Our method achieved the complete elimination of false-positive normal cell (NC) counts. The analysis was performed using only 1.5 ml of collected blood samples. Results The CTC distribution in the cohort study ranged from 1 to 85 cells per 1.5 ml of blood. In more than 80% of patients' CTCs, the quantitative estimation of anti-CK18 protein overexpression indicated an intensity approximately 10-fold higher than that of normal cells. Compared to treatment-naive, recurrent, and disease-free patients, the spread of CTC numbers across the clinical range appeared to be tight (close to the mean value). The CTC enumeration sensitivity linearity was ~99.2%, and the complete enumeration process time was under 3 hours per 1.5 ml of blood. Consequently, an efficient, rapid, and affordable CTC platform was designed and clinically validated. Conclusions The "OncoDiscover" liquid biopsy technology for CTC enumeration is poised to revolutionize the field due to its high sensitivity and affordability (~$120). It addresses a major unmet medical need in the developing world. 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: Measure of minimal residual burden on CTCs with over-expression of PD-L1 as a dynamic biomarker in patients with colorectal cancer. | Actorius Innovations & Research Co.
CTC and PD-L1 analysis helps detect MRD and guide therapy in colorectal cancer. Publications June 3, 2024 ASCO 2024: Measure of minimal residual burden on CTCs with over-expression of PD-L1 as a dynamic biomarker in patients with colorectal cancer. CTC detection with PD-L1 expression in colorectal cancer reveals minimal residual disease and supports personalized treatment strategies. Background In stage III colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, the extent of oxaliplatin-based adjuvant therapy remains uncertain. Approximately 25–50% of stage II–III CRC patients develop recurrence and metastasis even after comprehensive treatment, largely attributed to occult disease and minimal residual disease (MRD). Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) represent a bio-mechanistic source of extravasation leading to micro-metastatic disease. CRC patients receiving reduced adjuvant therapy (3–6 months) are known to exhibit increased CTC counts and positivity rates due to the emergence of resistant clones. Assays that detect CTCs and the expression of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) as a dynamic biomarker simultaneously have significant clinical implications, particularly when tissue biopsy samples are inadequate to identify molecular targets for immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. Methods In a retrospective study, 182 CRC patients were analyzed for the presence and distribution of CTCs at baseline and across follow-ups (0–4 follow-ups). Peripheral blood (1.5 ml) samples were analyzed using the CDSCO-approved OncoDiscover platform, which consists of a multifunctional magneto-nanosystem mediated by anti-epithelial cellular adhesion molecule (EpCAM) antibodies. CTCs were evaluated in patients with early-stage disease (pre- and post-treatment), progressive disease, disease-free status (DFS), and metastasis. Isolated cells were immunostained to detect CK18+, CD45-, DAPI+, and PD-L1+ expression. PD-L1 expression on CTCs was validated by analyzing the linear intensity gradients of fluorescence signals. CTCs were classified as PD-L1 negative when weak or no fluorescence signal was detected and PD-L1 positive when strong fluorescence signals were observed using automated image acquisition on a Zeiss fluorescence microscope. Results Among the cohort of 182 CRC patient samples, 128 (70.3%) showed the presence of CTCs. A fluorescence intensity-based assay was developed to evaluate PD-L1 expression as a robust functional biomarker for molecular characterization of CTCs. The distribution of CTCs ranged from 1 to 9 cells. The mean fluorescence intensity value and cut-off for PD-L1 expression in CTCs was approximately 1.02. Notably, 54 patients (42.2%) with CTCs showed positive PD-L1 expression. CTC-positive patients with PD-L1 expression were observed across all stages, including early-stage disease, progressive disease, and metastasis. Patients without detectable CTCs (n = 54, 29.7%) either had clinically stable disease or were in DFS with no radiographic evidence of disease. Conclusions PD-L1 overexpression on CTCs represents a dynamic blood-based biomarker indicating disease progression even in patients with DFS status. Enumeration of CTCs along with assessment of PD-L1 expression may enable more individualized treatment strategies for CRC patients and support better monitoring of disease progression and therapeutic response. 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
- Manuscript: Optimizing Circulating Tumor Cells’ Capture Efficiency of Magnetic Nanogels by Transferrin Decoration | Actorius Innovations & Research Co.
Magnetic nanogels enable optimized capture of circulating tumor cells from blood. Publications February 11, 2018 Manuscript: Optimizing Circulating Tumor Cells’ Capture Efficiency of Magnetic Nanogels by Transferrin Decoration Magnetic nanogels with optimized PEG–transferrin linkers achieve over 80% efficiency in selectively capturing circulating tumor cells from blood. Magnetic nanogels (MNGs) are designed with the necessary features to function as highly efficient trapping materials for the challenging task of selectively capturing circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from the bloodstream. A key factor in this process is the ability to discriminate CTCs from hematological cells, which can be optimized by finely tuning the polymers used to link the targeting moiety to the MNGs. Here, we describe the relationship between the capturing efficiency of CTCs with overexpressed transferrin receptors and the different strategies used in polymer linkers to decorate these MNGs with transferrin (Tf). Heterobifunctional polyethylene glycol (PEG) linkers with varying molecular weights were coupled to transferrin in different ratios. Optimal results, with over 80% CTC capture efficiency, were obtained when three PEG linkers with a length of eight ethylene glycol (EG) units were used. These findings highlight the crucial role of linker design in developing efficient CTC-sorting systems. 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
- Meeting with our KOLs | Actorius Innovations & Research Co.
Actorius Meeting with Oncology KOLs in US and Europe Events February 20, 2026 Meeting with our KOLs Our team meeting with oncology KOLs from the US and Europe. Meeting with Oncology KOLs in USA and Europe We had the opportunity to engage with leading oncology KOLs across the USA and Europe, including Dr. Klaus Pantel , Dr. Catherine Alix-Panabières , Dr. Umberto Malapelle , and Dr. Ravindra Kolhe . The discussions centered around our latest innovation, OncoMetastat® , and explored emerging advancements in oncology—particularly in circulating tumor cell (CTC) research and the biology of metastasis. OncoMetastat® is our patented investigational extracorporeal blood-processing platform, inspired by blood-dialysis principles. It is designed to selectively capture circulating tumor cells directly from a patient’s bloodstream while preserving overall blood integrity. By enabling real-time interaction with CTCs, the platform aims to go beyond detection—offering the potential to study tumor behavior dynamically and generate deeper biological insights into disease progression. Importantly, OncoMetastat® is also being evaluated for its potential to reduce circulating tumor burden through selective capture, opening new possibilities in adjunct therapeutic strategies and early intervention in the metastatic cascade. Built with a strong emphasis on precision, safety, and scalability, the technology represents a step toward integrating diagnostics and intervention within a single platform. These insightful exchanges with global experts reinforce our commitment to advancing precision-driven cancer care through collaboration, innovation, and a deeper understanding of cancer biology. 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
- Manuscript: Circulating tumor cells as a predictor for poor prognostic factors and overall survival in treatment nay¨ve oral squamous cell carcinoma patients | Actorius Innovations & Research Co.
Preoperative CTC levels predict prognosis and survival in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Publications July 1, 2022 Manuscript: Circulating tumor cells as a predictor for poor prognostic factors and overall survival in treatment nay¨ve oral squamous cell carcinoma patients Preoperative circulating tumor cell levels strongly correlate with metastasis, disease severity, and reduced survival in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and their correlation with prognostic factors and clinical outcomes in treatment-naive patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma. Study design: CTCs were isolated using the OncoDiscover technique from presurgically obtained peripheral blood of 152 patients with treatment-naive oral squamous cell carcinoma. Sensitivity analysis was performed by including 40 healthy controls. CTC cutoff values for clinicopathologic factors were obtained from receiver operating characteristic curves. Multivariate models determined the significance of CTCs as independent variables. Kaplan–Meier analysis differentiated overall survival based on CTC values corresponding to disease stage. Results: Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of CTC detection were 94.32%, 98%, and 95.17%, respectively. The platform differentiated true positives at >3.5 CTCs (P < .00001). CTC counts above 20.5 were suggestive of nodal metastasis (P < .0001), with a linear trend for detecting occult metastasis (P = .061). Early and advanced stages could be differentiated by >13.5 CTCs (P < .0001). Elevated CTC levels were significantly associated with extranodal extension (>21.45 CTCs, P = .025), perineural invasion (>19.35 CTCs, P = .049), and depth of invasion (>12.5 CTCs, P = .0038). Median survival was reduced by 19 months when CTC levels were >13. Conclusions: Preoperative CTC levels demonstrated a strong correlation with adverse clinicopathologic factors and suggested their role as a sensitive prognostic marker for predicting survival outcomes and disease progression. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol 2022;134:73–83) 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
- Manuscript: Real-Time Therapy Response Monitoring Using Surface Biomarkers on Circulating Tumor Cells | Actorius Innovations & Research Co.
Real-Time Therapy Response Monitoring Using Surface Biomarkers on Circulating Tumor Cells Publications January 27, 2026 Manuscript: Real-Time Therapy Response Monitoring Using Surface Biomarkers on Circulating Tumor Cells Circulating tumor cells (CTCs), cancer cells shed from primary tumors into the bloodstream, are emerging as dynamic, non-invasive biomarkers for real-time cancer monitoring, especially when tissue biopsies are inaccessible or inadequate... Simple summary Circulating tumor cells (CTCs), which are cancer cells shed from primary tumors into the bloodstream, are emerging as dynamic, non-invasive biomarkers for real-time cancer monitoring, especially when tissue biopsies are inaccessible or inadequate. Unlike static tissue samples, CTCs allow repeated assessments that track tumor evolution, therapeutic response, and minimal residual disease. Hence, CTCs offer a minimally invasive, real-time alternative to tissue biopsies for cancer monitoring, particularly through surface protein biomarkers like PD-L1, HER2, and EGFR. As detection technologies improve and the clinical relevance of CTCs continues to be established, CTC profiling is poised to significantly influence the future of precision oncology. Abstract Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are shed from the primary tumor into the bloodstream and represent dynamic molecular biomarkers for monitoring the progression of cancer. While profiling tumor tissues with overexpression of cell surface markers, such as PD-L1 or HER2, is standard in guiding therapy, tissue samples are often inaccessible and inadequate, especially post-surgery or in cases of recurrence. Emerging clinical evidence indicates that CTC counts and biomarker surface expression can predict prognosis and therapeutic resistance more accurately than imaging or tissue-based approaches. Recent advancements in CTC detection methods, based on physical properties or surface markers (e.g., EpCAM), coupled with next-generation sequencing (NGS), have enabled the isolation of these rare cells and their molecular characterization. Consequently, CTCs provide a real-time alternative, enabling repeated, longitudinal assessment of tumor phenotype and therapeutic response. This review emphasizes the translational potential of surface protein biomarkers on CTCs for profiling, namely PD-L1, HER2, and EGFR, as a clinically actionable approach to stratify patients, guide immunotherapy decisions, and monitor minimal residual disease (MRD), especially when longitudinal tissue biopsies are not feasible. 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
