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Made in India: The Low-Cost Blood Test Revolutionizing Cancer Care | Dr. Pankaj Chaturvedi Expert Insights August 9, 2022 Made in India: The Low-Cost Blood Test Revolutionizing Cancer Care | Dr. Pankaj Chaturvedi Dr. Pankaj Chaturvedi (Director, ACTREC) and Dr. Jayant Khandare discuss OncoDiscover, India's first indigenous CTC blood test. By detecting cancer relapse earlier than traditional scans, this groundbreaking "Made in India" technology drastically lowers patient costs and paves the way for future medical innovations. 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

Single CTC genomics reveals mutations and therapy resistance beyond ctDNA in CRC. Publications September 17, 2024 ESMO 2024: True single-circulating tumor cell genomics reveals enriched therapy-resistance signatures in advanced colorectal cancer patients Single CTC genomics reveals actionable mutations and therapy resistance signatures not detected in paired ctDNA in advanced colorectal cancer. Background Plasma ctDNA (circulating tumor DNA) has emerged as a novel biomarker for detecting genomic alterations and for longitudinal monitoring of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. However, nearly 30% of patients show no mutations detected, potentially missing opportunities for companion therapy. Single circulating tumor cell (sCTC) genomics can provide greater sensitivity in detecting actionable targets. We report comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) of live sCTCs and paired ctDNA from an advanced CRC patient population. Methods Retrospectively, live sCTCs and CTC clusters were isolated from six patients with stage IV CRC using OncoRADAR technology. Whole genomes of sCTCs were amplified and target-enriched using hybridization capture with OncoIndx, a comprehensive 1080-gene panel, to generate sequencing libraries. These libraries were sequenced on the Illumina NextSeq 2000 platform in paired-end mode with a sequencing depth of 500×. Raw sequence alignment and variant calling were performed using iCare software. Paired ctDNA samples were processed similarly but sequenced at a higher depth of 5500×. Results A total of 22 sCTCs were isolated, including four CTC clusters. The combined mutational landscape revealed 142 clinically relevant mutations, including 65 missense (45.77%), 25 nonsense (17.61%), 16 frameshift (11.27%), 7 indels (4.93%), 10 splice variants (7.04%), and 19 structural variants (13.38%). NRAS was the most frequently mutated gene, occurring in 52% of samples, followed by SMO (47.6%), TAP1 (42.85%), and TP53 (42.5%). In paired ctDNA samples, TP53 (66%), KRAS (50%), and TAP1 (33.33%) were the most frequently mutated genes. At the individual gene level, a 40% concordance was observed between sCTC and ctDNA. The genomic profile of sCTCs was particularly enriched with mutations in proliferative and stemness-maintenance signaling pathways, including NRAS:p.A146T and SMO:p.V392G, suggesting potential therapy evasion mechanisms. CTCs also showed a higher accumulation of immunotherapy resistance signatures, including loss-of-function mutations in STK11 and STAT5B, which were not detected in paired ctDNA samples. Conclusions The genomic profile of sCTCs exhibited enriched mutations in proliferative and stemness-maintenance signaling pathways. Therapy resistance signatures were more prevalent in sCTCs compared to ctDNA and may provide important clinical insights, particularly for patients who cannot provide tissue biopsy samples or show negative ctDNA results. 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

Dual ctDNA and CTC biomarkers improve detection of cancer progression. Publications June 3, 2024 ASCO 2024: Impact of ctDNA genomic mutations and CTCs biomarker duo on clinical concordance in localized, progressive, and metastatic disease. Dual biomarker analysis of ctDNA and circulating tumor cells reveals disease progression and metastasis across multiple cancer types. Background Genomic mutations identified from circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) have been shown to correlate positively with clinical disease status. EGFR and intracellular cell progression and proliferation pathways involving BRCA1/2 and TP53 genes drive high ctDNA load in progressive cancer patients. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) indicate cellular residual disease (CRD). Together, ctDNA and CTCs as dual biomarkers offer predictive insights into tumor progression and metastasis, which may be valuable for early detection and treatment modifications. Methods In a retrospective study, 96 cancer patients (including lung, colorectal, breast, stomach, and other cancers) who had recently undergone treatment were investigated for the presence of CTCs and genomic mutations from ctDNA using the OncoMonitor test. Libraries were prepared using a hybridization-capture method covering 1000 targets with a mean sequencing depth of 5000× on the Illumina NextSeq 2000 platform. The test detected genomic alterations including single nucleotide variations (SNVs), small insertions and deletions (INDELs), copy number variations (CNVs), and translocations (fusions) using a 96-gene panel. CTCs were isolated using the OncoDiscover platform and identified as CK18+, PD-L1+, CD45- cells in 1.5 ml of blood. Results Among the 96 pan-cancer patients, 15.6% (n = 15) were identified with localized progressive disease without metastasis based on radiological findings, of which 60% (n = 9) showed at least one genomic alteration detected from ctDNA. Additionally, 12.5% (n = 12) patients were identified with metastatic disease from radiological findings, of which 58.3% (n = 7) showed the presence of at least one CTC. Among these, 33.3% (n = 4) patients had two CTCs, while five patients had no detectable CTCs. Furthermore, metastatic patients showed ctDNA load in 66.6% (n = 8) of cases with at least one genomic finding. In the metastatic disease cohort, CTC enumeration showed a concordance of 58.3% (n = 7) with metastatic radiological findings, while genomic findings from ctDNA showed a concordance of 66.6% (n = 8) with metastatic radiological findings. Among 23.9% (n = 23) patients identified radiologically with stable or treatment-responsive disease, 73.9% (n = 17) had no detectable genomic mutations from ctDNA, and 26.0% (n = 6) were CTC-negative, consistent with radiological findings. However, 26.0% (n = 6) patients had at least one genomic finding, contributing to discordance with radiological findings. Overall, genomic findings from the dual biomarkers showed concordance with radiological findings in 26.6% (n = 4) patients with progressive disease, 41.6% (n = 5) patients with metastatic disease, and 17.3% (n = 4) patients with stable or treatment-responsive disease. Conclusions Patients with progressive and metastatic disease identified through radiological findings showed concordance with dual ctDNA and CTC biomarkers. The concordance of ctDNA in progressive disease and CTC detection in metastatic disease highlights the individual significance of these biomarkers and supports their combined use for monitoring disease status and guiding treatment decisions. 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

AI-based image analysis rapidly profiles CTC morphology and biomarker expression. Publications September 16, 2025 Profiling of PD-L1 and HER2 over expression on cancer cells using AI based macro-driven automation AI-based image analysis rapidly profiles circulating tumor cells, quantifying morphology and biomarkers like PD-L1 and HER2 for cancer research. Abstract Background Extravasation, invasion, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions, metastasis progression, immune evasion, and therapeutic resistance are driven by phenotypic alterations in cancer cells. Assessing cell morphology, stiffness, and deformability is therefore crucial. The expression of PD-L1, HER2, EGFR, and cytokeratins (CKs) serves as key phenotypic biomarkers for precision oncology. We developed an AI-based image analysis tool that rapidly captures these transitions in cell assays, including specific protein biomarkers expressed on circulating tumor cells (CTCs). Methods We extended an ImageJ macro to enable rapid and reproducible extraction of biophysical parameters. The macro processes .lif, .nd2, and .czi file formats, using DAPI for nuclear segmentation and fluorophore-conjugated antibodies to delineate cytoplasmic boundaries. We evaluated automatic channel detection, intensity normalization, Otsu thresholding, and per-cell quantification of parameters such as surface area, circularity index (CI), and mean fluorescence intensity. Violin plots illustrated temporal variations in CI across A549 and MCF7 cells. Validation was conducted on CTCs isolated from cancer patient samples (n = 100) for PD-L1 and HER2 expression. Results The macro reduced image processing time from 7 minutes to 3 seconds per sample. A549 cells showed higher and more consistent CI values across all time points, while MCF7 cells demonstrated lower CI with greater variability, particularly at 24 and 72 hours. Quantitative measurements of PD-L1 and HER2 expression showed 100% concordance between the ImageJ macro and Zeiss software outputs, confirming analytical accuracy. CK18 intensity (~60–400) and PD-L1 (~20–50) levels measured by both platforms validated the macro’s ability to detect a wide range of marker expression in CTC subsets. CTCs exhibited higher CI values and greater morphological heterogeneity, consistent with their invasive phenotype. Conclusions We present an AI-driven macro that quantifies the biophysical characteristics of cancer cells, enabling precise phenotypic profiling, including circularity index, proliferation rates, and overexpression of biomarkers such as PD-L1 and HER2 in both cultured cell lines and patient-derived CTCs. 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

Combined CTC and ctDNA analysis improves monitoring of metastatic colorectal cancer. Publications October 17, 2025 Circulating Biomarkers Reveal their Complementary Association in Primary and Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients Combined CTC and ctDNA analysis reveals strong prognostic value for monitoring progression and metastasis in colorectal cancer patients. Background Combined analysis of biomarkers such as circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) overexpressing tumorigenic proteins offers insight into evolving genotypic transitions from primary tumors that lead to metastasis in distant organs. We report the comparative distribution of CTCs and ctDNA genomic profiling in patients stratified as primary colorectal cancer (CRC) patients alone and those with metastasis progression in the liver, lung, and lymph nodes. Methods Retrospectively, we analyzed 218 patients with primary CRC (n = 153; male n = 93 and female n = 60). Metastasis was accounted for in 65 patients, namely liver (n = 27), lung (n = 8), and lymph nodes (n = 30). A total of 285 peripheral blood samples (218 baseline and 67 follow-up) were analyzed for the distribution of CTCs and ctDNA with driver mutations. CTCs expressing PD-L1 were evaluated using the CDSCO-approved OncoDiscover platform using 1.5 ml of blood. CTCs were enumerated based on EpCAM+, CK18+, DAPI+, and CD45– markers using a Zeiss automated fluorescence microscope. Further, the OncoIndx comprehensive NGS assay was performed using a 1080-gene panel. Results At baseline, 64.8% of primary CRC patients had ≥1 CTC (mean CTC distribution ~1.1), while 55.9% of patients had detectable ctDNA. In patients with metastasis (n = 65), the mean CTC distribution was 1.8. Higher CTC distribution was observed in liver metastasis (41.5%), lymph node involvement (46.2%), and lung metastasis (12.3%). A total of 71.7% of patients had detectable CTCs, among which 88.2% showed PD-L1 expression, while 61.3% of patients had detectable ctDNA. Concordance rates were 83.7% and 100% between the presence of CTCs and ctDNA in baseline and follow-up samples from patients with primary cancer, respectively. Furthermore, a strong correlation was observed between elevated CTC counts and the presence of ctDNA mutations in key oncogenes, including KRAS, EGFR, and BRAF. Conclusions Higher co-occurrence of ctDNA with CTCs at both baseline and follow-up highlights the need for monitoring disease progression and assessing treatment response. Thus, combined analysis of CTCs and ctDNA provides significant prognostic value in metastatic colorectal cancer. 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

Liquid biopsy may replace invasive procedure to detect cancer Press Release April 23, 2020 Times of India | Liquid biopsy may replace invasive procedure to detect cancer: Experts Liquid biopsy may replace invasive procedure to detect cancer: Experts Read the article 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

Discover our groundbreaking research in Oncology. Explore our publications to see research that matters. Stay informed with our latest insights. Publications Research That Shapes the Future of Oncology Access studies, scientific papers, and published findings advancing cancer diagnostics and care. March 17, 2026 Read More ASCO 2026 : Association of circulating tumor cells with PD-L1 expression and clusters in confirmative tumor thrombus in selective solid cancers. Study shows circulating tumor cells with PD-L1 expression in tumor thrombus patients, indicating active dissemination and potential metastatic risk. March 17, 2026 Read More ASCO 26: Assessment of circulating tumor cells and clusters expressing PD-L1 in urological cancers High prevalence of PD-L1–positive circulating tumor cells in urological cancers, especially prostate cancer, indicating minimal residual disease and recurrence risk. March 17, 2026 Read More ASCO 2026: Comparative enumeration of circulating tumor cells with PD-L1 over expression using anti EpCAM antibody to N-Cadherin in solid cancers Dual EpCAM and N-cadherin profiling improves circulating tumor cell detection, enhancing minimal residual disease surveillance and identifying metastasis-prone cells. March 17, 2026 Read More AACR 2026: Over expressing PD-L1 circulating tumor cells with clusters in prostate cancer patients Study shows high prevalence of PD-L1–positive circulating tumor cells in prostate cancer, highlighting their value for monitoring disease progression and immune evasion. March 17, 2026 Read More 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. March 17, 2026 Read More AACR 2026: Depletion of circulating tumor cells using an automated device using non-hemolytic affinity-based substrates Actorius Innovations presents accepted research abstracts at the AACR Annual Meeting 2026, highlighting advances in cancer diagnostics, therapeutics and liquid biopsy. March 7, 2026 Read More AACR 2020: Clinical correlation of circulating tumor cells as a blood marker in Indian head and neck cancer patients. A study of 350 Indian HNC patients confirms CTCs correlate with nodal stage and aggressive features, validating their use as a clinical staging marker. January 27, 2026 Read More 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... November 3, 2025 Read More PD-L1 over-expression on Circulating Tumor Cells in Endometrial Cancer Patients Khandare J, Ghadyalpatil N, Raja T, Velukuru S, Jadhav V, Satape R, Shinde S, Ashturkar A, Dattatreya P, Vasudevan A Actorius Innovations And Research, Pune, Maharashtra, India; Apollo Cancer Institute, Hyderabad, Telangana, India; Apollo Cancer Centre, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India; Aster CMI Hospital, Bangaluru, Karnataka, India; Renova Soumya Cancer Center, Hyderabad, Telangana, India. November 3, 2025 Read More 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. November 3, 2025 Read More Automated Continual Flow Device to Deplete Circulating Tumor Cells using Spiral Cartridge Mediated by Antibody and Transferrin Glass Substrate Automated OncoMetastat device captures and depletes circulating tumor cells from whole blood safely, supporting extracorporeal cancer therapy and monitoring. November 3, 2025 Read More Association of Circulating Tumor Cell Dynamics with Patient-Reported Cancer Worry in Post-Surgical Breast Cancer Patients Circulating tumor cell monitoring before and after breast cancer surgery reveals minimal residual disease and correlates with post-surgical cancer worry. October 17, 2025 Read More Circulating Biomarkers Reveal their Complementary Association in Primary and Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients Combined CTC and ctDNA analysis reveals strong prognostic value for monitoring progression and metastasis in colorectal cancer patients. September 16, 2025 Read More PD-L1 overexpression on circulating tumor cells and CTC clusters: A potential biomarker across solid carcinomas Correlation of CTC detection, PD-L1 expression, and CTC clusters highlights biomarkers for minimal residual disease and cancer progression monitoring. September 16, 2025 Read More Profiling of PD-L1 and HER2 over expression on cancer cells using AI based macro-driven automation AI-based image analysis rapidly profiles circulating tumor cells, quantifying morphology and biomarkers like PD-L1 and HER2 for cancer research. June 3, 2025 Read More 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. June 3, 2025 Read More Circulating tumor cells and clusters exhibiting expression of PD-L1 in colorectal patients. High prevalence of PD-L1–positive circulating tumor cells in colorectal cancer highlights their role in minimal residual disease and recurrence monitoring. June 3, 2025 Read More Use of dynamic blood flow device with conjugated affinity ligands on glass substrate to capture circulating tumor cells in cancer patients. Continuous-flow 3D glass substrate device safely captures circulating tumor cells, demonstrating potential to reduce metastasis and improve cancer survival. June 3, 2025 Read More Quadrant of co-occurrence of circulating tumor DNA and PD-L1 expression on circulating tumor cells in monitoring disease aggressiveness and metastasis in lung cancer. Combined ctDNA and PD-L1–positive CTC analysis improves monitoring of metastasis, minimal residual disease, and treatment response in lung cancer. June 3, 2025 Read More Comparative analysis of circulating tumor cell distribution with PD-L1 expression in baseline and follow ups patients across cancer types. This multi-cancer study shows CTC and PD-L1 prevalence across Indian patients, supporting minimal residual disease monitoring and personalized cancer care. May 9, 2025 Read More Accounts of circulating tumor cells and CTC clusters with PD-L1 expression in sarcoma patients Study shows circulating tumor cells with PD-L1 expression and clusters in sarcoma, indicating minimal residual disease and need for long-term monitoring. March 14, 2025 Read More Manuscript: The impact of co-occurring tumor suppressor mutations with mEGFR as early indicators of relapse in lung cancer A set of 17 co-occurring TSG mutations has been identified as key biomarkers for early relapse in mEGFR lung adenocarcinoma. Longitudinal genomic monitoring, with a focus on clonal evolution, offers valuable insights that can inform personalized treatment strategies and potentially improve patient outcomes. November 25, 2024 Read More ISLB 2024: Transit of Circulating Tumor Cells (CTC) Post Radiotherapy at Irradiated Tumor Regions in Pan-cancer Patients Study links radiotherapy exposure with circulating tumor cells and PD-L1 expression, indicating possible minimal residual disease and metastatic risk. November 25, 2024 Read More ISLB 2024: Comprehensive Analysis of ctDNA and CTCs Reveals Resistance signatures and Correlations with PET Scan Outcomes in Cancer Patients Integrated ctDNA and CTC analysis correlates with PET-CT outcomes to reveal treatment resistance and aggressive cancer progression. November 25, 2024 Read More ISLB 2024: Expression of Programmed Death - Ligand 1 as a dynamic biomarker on circulating tumor cells in pancreatic cancer patients CTC detection with PD-L1 overexpression reveals aggressive pancreatic cancer and potential biomarker value for monitoring metastasis and disease progression. September 17, 2024 Read More ESMO 2024: True single-circulating tumor cell genomics reveals enriched therapy-resistance signatures in advanced colorectal cancer patients Single CTC genomics reveals actionable mutations and therapy resistance signatures not detected in paired ctDNA in advanced colorectal cancer. July 15, 2024 Read More 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. June 29, 2024 Read More Manuscript: Circulating Tumor Cells as Biomarkers for Relapse Detection in Rectal Cancer with Liver Metastasis: Insights from a Case Report In this case report we demonstrate the utility of CTC as a sensitive marker to detect MRD. CTCs play a crucial role in the context of MRD in colorectal cancer, offering a valuable biomarker for prognosis, treatment monitoring, and early detection of recurrence. June 4, 2024 Read More 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. June 3, 2024 Read More 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. June 3, 2024 Read More 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. June 3, 2024 Read More ASCO 2024: Impact of ctDNA genomic mutations and CTCs biomarker duo on clinical concordance in localized, progressive, and metastatic disease. Dual biomarker analysis of ctDNA and circulating tumor cells reveals disease progression and metastasis across multiple cancer types. June 3, 2024 Read More ASCO 2024: Association of complementing ctDNA and CTCs load on stable and progressive disease in treated patients. Complementary ctDNA and CTC biomarkers reveal minimal residual disease and predict cancer progression after curative-intent treatment. April 10, 2024 Read More AACR 2024: Distribution prophecy of circulating tumor cell clusters in CTC populace patients of epithelial cancers Large-scale analysis of circulating tumor cells and clusters reveals their role in predicting aggressive epithelial cancers and treatment resistance. April 10, 2024 Read More AACR 2024: Evaluation of HER-2 expression on circulating tumor cells as a real time biomarker in advanced breast cancer HER2 analysis on circulating tumor cells using the OncoDiscover® platform enables real-time, non-invasive profiling for improved metastatic breast cancer treatment decisions. April 4, 2024 Read More Manuscript: CTC together with Shh and Nrf2 are prospective diagnostic markers for HNSCC Study links Shh/Nrf2 overexpression with circulating tumor cells in HNSCC, highlighting their potential as biomarkers for early detection and survival prediction. October 24, 2023 Read More ESMO 2023: Expression of PD-L1 and EGFR on circulating tumor cells in advanced Lung cancer patients CTC analysis using OncoDiscover® enables dynamic detection of PD-L1 and EGFR targets in advanced lung cancer, supporting personalized targeted and immunotherapy decisions. September 20, 2023 Read More Manuscript: Magnetically-activated, nanostructured cellulose for efficient capture of CTCs from the blood sample of head and neck cancer patients Study compares CNC and CNF cellulose nanostructures for EpCAM-based CTC capture in head and neck cancer, enabling affordable real-time cancer monitoring. July 20, 2023 Read More Manuscript: Role of circulating tumour cells (CTCs) in recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) This study highlights the utility of CTCs as a disease progression monitoring tool in recurrent HNSCC patients. Our findings suggest the potential clinical utility of CTCs and the need for further exploration in upfront settings of the disease as well (NCT: CTRL/2020/02/023378). June 6, 2023 Read More 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. June 6, 2023 Read More 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! April 19, 2023 Read More AACR 2023: Detection of PD-L1, HER2 and EGFR on circulating tumor cells in carcinoma patients. CTC analysis in 134 patients successfully detected PD-L1, HER2, and EGFR, proving its value as a real-time guide for targeted therapies. April 11, 2023 Read More Manuscript: Chemical tunability of advanced materials used in the fabrication of micro/nanobots Review on chemically tunable micro- and nanobots for targeted nanomedicine, highlighting AI materials, applications, and biosafety considerations. January 15, 2023 Read More AACR 2023: Abstract PR007: Comprehensive ctDNA profiling reveals potential metastatic genomic signatures in treatment-naive early-stage breast cancer patients Comprehensive ctDNA profiling and CTC analysis in early-stage breast cancer identifies driver mutations to predict early metastasis. July 1, 2022 Read More 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. June 7, 2022 Read More 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. June 7, 2022 Read More ASCO 2022: Machine learning (ML)–enabled, circulating tumor cell–based classification of patients for non-prerequisite adjuvant therapy. An XGBoost ML model using CTCs and clinical data achieved 84% accuracy in predicting the need for adjuvant therapy in 380 HNSCC patients. June 7, 2022 Read More ASCO 2022: Extracorporeal microchannel device to capture and eliminate circulating tumor cells from cancer patient’s blood. A 3D-printed G-EpCAM device successfully captured over 85% of CTCs with minimal hemolysis, offering a new way to stem metastatic progression. June 7, 2022 Read More 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. June 7, 2022 Read More 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. First Prev 1 Page 1 Next Last

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

CTCs as biomarkers for relapse detection in rectal cancer with liver metastasis. Publications June 29, 2024 Manuscript: Circulating Tumor Cells as Biomarkers for Relapse Detection in Rectal Cancer with Liver Metastasis: Insights from a Case Report In this case report we demonstrate the utility of CTC as a sensitive marker to detect MRD. CTCs play a crucial role in the context of MRD in colorectal cancer, offering a valuable biomarker for prognosis, treatment monitoring, and early detection of recurrence. A 70-year-old female diagnosed case of rectal carcinoma (T3N2M0) received FOLFOX × 2 cycles followed by CAPOX × 2 cycles. She then underwent chemoradiation using capecitabine as a radiosensitiser, followed by laparoscopic tumor resection. The histopathology report showed tumour regression grade 2 (TRG2) response. Subsequently, the patient received 4 cycles of CAPOX but developed grade 2 peripheral neuropathy, leading to modification of her treatment to capecitabine alone for an additional 2 cycles. A whole-body positron emission tomography–computed tomography (PET-CT) scan at this stage showed no evidence of disease. However, a liquid biopsy test detected the presence of two circulating tumor cells (CTCs). An MRI of the abdomen and pelvis was conducted, revealing multiple live lesions (4 mm–6 mm) in segment IV/VIII of the liver, with no sign of local disease. To manage liver metastasis, the patient received 1 cycle of FOLFIRI while awaiting selective internal radiotherapy (SIRT), followed by 5 cycles of FOLFIRI. Three years later, her PET scans were observed to be completely normal. This case highlights the critical role of CTCs as a biomarker for detecting minimal residual disease (MRD) or relapse. Without CTC monitoring, the liver metastasis—which was successfully treated with SIRT—would likely have been missed under standard cancer care guidelines. As of today, the patient is completely disease-free, underscoring the importance of thorough investigation using advanced CTC liquid biopsy biomarkers in managing rectal cancer with liver metastasis. 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

AACR 2026 - Actorius Innovations and Research Events April 23, 2026 AACR 2026 Highlights | April 17-22 | San Diego, California Highlights from AACR 2026 Highlights from AACR 2026 We exhibited and presented two scientific posters that highlight the evolving role of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in cancer progression and management: Over expressing PD-L1 circulating tumor cells with clusters in prostate cancer patients. Depletion of circulating tumor cells using an automated device with non-hemolytic affinity-based substrates These studies reflect our continued efforts to better understand CTC biology—not only as indicators, but as active contributors to metastasis. At the center of this work is OncoMetastat® , our patented investigational extracorporeal blood-processing platform. It is envisaged to selectively capture and study circulating tumor cells from a patient’s bloodstream while maintaining blood integrity. Designed with a strong focus on precision and safety, the current prototype is under evaluation for its potential relevance in metastasis research and broader cancer management. Some Interesting Clicks Video Highlights We look forward to engaging with researchers, clinicians, and innovators shaping the future of oncology. 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

Combined ctDNA and PD-L1 CTC testing improves lung cancer monitoring and response. Publications June 3, 2025 Quadrant of co-occurrence of circulating tumor DNA and PD-L1 expression on circulating tumor cells in monitoring disease aggressiveness and metastasis in lung cancer. Combined ctDNA and PD-L1–positive CTC analysis improves monitoring of metastasis, minimal residual disease, and treatment response in lung cancer. Background Liquid biopsies analyzing circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) enable minimally invasive monitoring and testing of lung cancer across different stages. Approximately 90% of patients succumb due to metastasis. However, identifying patients with early metastatic signatures remains extremely challenging. In addition, monitoring minimal residual disease (MRD) and identifying patients at risk of recurrence is highly important. While the prognostic role of CTCs in predicting survival has been established in several cancers, the combined role of CTCs and ctDNA in monitoring disease aggressiveness, treatment response, and therapeutic decision-making has not been extensively explored. In this study, we investigated the combined roles of ctDNA and CTCs in monitoring disease aggressiveness and metastasis in lung cancer patients. Methods A cohort of 265 late-stage lung cancer patients was retrospectively analyzed for the co-occurrence of the dual biomarkers ctDNA and CTCs. The results were correlated in a quadrant-based model to assess clinical disease states derived from PET scans and histopathological examination (HPE) findings. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was performed using the OncoMonitor dual biomarker assay, which includes CTC enumeration with PD-L1 expression analysis. CTC counts were determined using the OncoDiscover Liquid Biopsy Test, approved by CDSCO-India, from 1.5 mL of blood. Results CTC distribution ranged from 1 to 8 cells, with a mean value of 1.22. Among the patients, 75.47% (n = 200) were CTC-positive, and among these, 91.50% (n = 183) exhibited PD-L1 expression on their CTCs, with a mean PD-L1–positive CTC value of 0.99. Both biomarkers were positive (ctDNA⁺/CTC⁺) in 135 patients (50.94%). Only 19 patients (7.17%) were negative for both biomarkers (ctDNA⁻/CTC⁻). Additionally, 43 patients (16.23%) were ctDNA⁺/CTC⁻, while 68 patients (25.66%) were ctDNA⁻/CTC⁺. The ctDNA⁺/CTC⁻ cohort exhibited the highest metastatic rate at 62.8%, followed by the ctDNA⁺/CTC⁺ group at 57.0%. The ctDNA-positive cohort showed the highest proportion of progressive disease (20.2% and 18.6% in CTC⁺ and CTC⁻ subgroups, respectively). Mutations in EGFR, TP53, and KRAS were observed in 62.64% (166/265) of patients. Stable disease was observed in 29.4% of patients when both biomarkers were absent (ctDNA⁻/CTC⁻). Conclusions Overall, the ctDNA-positive cohort demonstrated higher rates of MRD, disease progression, and metastasis, with no cases of stable disease. The combined quadrant analysis of CTC-PD-L1 cells and ctDNA provides a non-invasive approach for monitoring disease progression, treatment response, complete remission, and early metastatic detection in lung cancer patients. 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