Microfluidic Technique to Improve Cancer Screenings

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are a marker of cancer, and the ability to count live, individual CTCs in the bloodstream can help doctors determine the severity of a cancer, as CTC density in the blood is linked to the progression of the disease and patients’ likelihood of survival.  Scientists from Peking University (China) have devised a microfluidic chip that can quickly and efficiently segregate and capture live CTCs from a patient’s blood, with potential applications for cancer screenings and treatment assessments.  The ability to count live, individual CTCs in the bloodstream can help doctors determine the severity of a cancer, since CTC density in the blood is linked to the progression of the disease and patients’ likelihood of survival. The study authors submit that: “The work here indicates that our system can be developed for use in cancer screening, metastatic assessment, and chemotherapeutic response and for pharmacological and genetic evaluation of single [circulating tumor cells].”