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Actorius and ACTREC Partner to Advance Clinical Cancer Research. Press Release 5 February 2026 Actorius and ACTREC Partner to Advance Clinical Cancer Research. A collaborative research initiative to study the practical utility of Circulating Tumor Cells and their capture and depletion from patient's blood as possible aid to adjunct therapeutics. Big step forward for Actorius Innovations and Research 🙌 Actorius recently signed an MOU with Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer(ACTREC) to collaborate on clinical studies and research spanning - practical utility of Circulating Tumor Cells and their capture and depletion from patient’s blood as possible aid to adjunct therapeutics. Slowing down or blocking metastasis cascade in early stage patients. Extremely bold and breakthrough innovation hypothesis. This partnership is about taking science closer to patients—generating meaningful real-world evidence, strengthening translational research, and asking the right clinical questions where it truly matters. The MOU was signed by Dr. Pankaj Chaturvedi , Director, ACTREC, and Dr. Jayant Khandare , Co-Founder & CSO, Actorius Innovations and Research. Excited about what lies ahead and the impact this collaboration can create together. Aravindan Vasudevan Rick Kamble 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

CTC monitoring tracks therapy response and disease progression in advanced cancers. Publications 7 June 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

Actorius Innovations at ASCO 2026 Publications 17 March 2026 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. Abstract Background Minimal cellular residual disease (MCRD) with PD-L1 expression on circulating tumor cells (CTCs) is highly evidenced for possible aggressive diseases systemically. CTCs captured using N-cadherin—a calcium-dependent transmembrane glycoprotein—targets epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) tumor cells. There is a difference in phenotypic specificity, as EpCAM likely misses CTCs that have undergone EMT, while N-cadherin enables the detection of these aggressive, invasive cells. Thus, N-cadherin-based CTC capture is more effective for identifying metastasis-prone CTCs. Using both markers together may improve overall CTC capture efficiency to provide a more comprehensive landscape of tumor heterogeneity and disease progression. We show the comparative and paired outcome of CTC capture using both anti-EpCAM antibodies versus N-cadherin across solid cancers. Methods Retrospectively, we compared 33 patients with different stages of breast, rectal, colon, prostate, lung, and other cancers. CTCs were detected using an affinity marker-independent isolation platform to avoid EpCAM bias. CTCs were isolated using a marker-independent, anti-EpCAM-positive, and N-cadherin-positive OncoDiscover platform evaluating PD-L1+ expression using automated Zeiss microscopy. Anti-EpCAM-positive and N-cadherin-positive CTCs were classified using validated intensity thresholds, concordance/discordance rates, cluster frequency, and the mean distribution of CTCs. Results OncoDiscover platform EpCAM and N-cadherin expression showed an overall concordance of 60.61% and a discordance of 39.39%, indicating EMT-related phenotypic divergence. The mean CTC counts were comparable between anti-EpCAM-positive and N-cadherin-positive samples (0.66 and 0.70 per sample, respectively). Among EpCAM-positive CTCs, 42.85% expressed PD-L1, whereas PD-L1 positivity was lower and present in 30.30% of N-cadherin-positive CTCs. Importantly, 4 N-cadherin+/EpCAM- PD-L1-positive CTCs were identified, which were not captured by EpCAM affinity; conversely, 6 EpCAM+/PD-L1+ CTCs lacked N-cadherin expression. Notably, CTC clusters were found in 12.12% of EpCAM+ cases and 6.06% of N-cadherin-positive cases. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that dual-marker profiling improves detection sensitivity relative to single-marker interrogation. Conclusions Using both EpCAM and N-cadherin together improved CTC capture efficiency. However, N-cadherin-based CTC capture is more implicative in identifying metastasis-prone CTCs. The dual affinity accounts for CTCs for MCRD surveillance for the presence of disease systemically and is indicative of the progression of micro-metastasis. 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 liquid biopsy enables CTC detection for cancer diagnosis and monitoring. Expert Insights 11 August 2020 OncoDiscover Liquid Biopsy Technology | Clinical Significance of Circulating Tumor Cell Detection Highlights the clinical value of circulating tumor cell detection using OncoDiscover liquid biopsy technology for cancer diagnosis and patient monitoring. Know more Stay One Step Ahead of Cancer. Get the latest news and innovations from Actorius delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for regular updates Email* Yes, subscribe me for regular updates. * Subscribe

PD-L1 expressing CTCs help monitor pancreatic cancer progression and MRD. Publications 25 November 2024 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. Introduction Pancreatic cancer shows a high mortality rate due to difficulties in early diagnosis and the absence of standardized guidelines for assessing suspicious pancreatic masses. Biomarkers such as carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and CA19-9 lack sufficient sensitivity and specificity for pancreatic cancer detection. While tissue biopsy provides a static signature of target protein expressions, including PD-L1, the enumeration and profiling of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) with cell surface markers can offer actionable targets for treatment. We present findings in pancreatic cancer where CTCs are associated with overexpression of PD-L1 as a dynamic marker for monitoring minimal residual disease (MRD) and disease progression, highlighting its role in the metastatic cascade. Methods Retrospectively, 50 pancreatic cancer patients were investigated for the presence of CTCs. Among them, 12 patients (24%) were in the early stage of disease, with ages ranging from 35 to 75 years. Sixty percent of patients were male (n = 30) and 40% were female (n = 20), while 76% (n = 38) were classified as late-stage cases. PD-L1 expression was evaluated using the approved OncoDiscover platform, which utilizes multi-component systems conjugated with anti-EpCAM antibodies on magnetic nanoparticles. CTC enumeration was performed using CD45–, EpCAM+, DAPI+, and CK18+ markers in 1.5 ml of peripheral blood. Functional assays assessed PD-L1 overexpression on CTCs using automated motorized Zeiss fluorescence microscopy. The sensitivity of the CTC and PD-L1 assay had been previously evaluated in other solid cancers. Results Out of 50 pancreatic cancer patients, 74% (n = 37) had at least one detectable CTC. Among these patients, 51% (n = 19) had one CTC, 30% (n = 11) had two CTCs, 14% (n = 5) had three CTCs, and 5% (n = 2) had four CTCs. The mean number of CTCs and clusters was 1.28 and 0.16, respectively. Additionally, 92% (n = 34) of patients demonstrated PD-L1 expression on CTCs. CTC clusters were observed in 19% of patients (n = 7). The mean PD-L1 expression on CTCs was 1.14. Conclusions CTCs with PD-L1 overexpression strongly suggest poor prognosis, potentially linked to activation of the metastatic cascade through immune system evasion. Larger studies are required to validate whether PD-L1-positive CTCs can serve as a reliable biomarker for the diagnosis and management of pancreatic 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

CTC and PD-L1 profiling supports therapy stratification and monitoring in cancers. Publications 16 September 2025 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. Abstract Background Overexpression of the dynamic protein PD-L1 on circulating tumor cells (CTCs) is a highly implicative biomarker that represents post–curative intent status, minimal residual disease (MRD), disease aggressiveness, therapeutic response, and metastatic progression. We evaluated the correlation among CTC detection, PD-L1 expression, and CTC clusters present in solid tumors, namely lung, breast, colorectal, ovarian, and prostate carcinomas. Longitudinal monitoring of CTCs remains a major focus after treatments, including surgical intervention with curative intent. Methods Retrospectively, we analyzed 328 cancer patients (male 163, female 165) across stages, consisting of a total of 383 samples with baseline and follow-ups (n = 55). Cancer types included lung (27.13%), colorectal cancer (21.95%), breast (9.75%), ovary (4.2%), prostate (3.9%), and others. CTCs and clusters were detected from 1.5 ml peripheral blood using the OncoDiscover platform approved by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization of India. The platform contains a multifunctional magneto-nanosystem mediated by anti-epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) antibody. CTCs were confirmed as EpCAM+ve, CK18+ve, DAPI+ve, and CD45–ve. PD-L1 expression on CTCs was detected based on the linear intensity gradients of fluorescence signals using image acquisition on an automated fluorescence microscope. Results Among the 383 samples with baseline and follow-ups, 69.45% of patients had CTCs ranging from 1–11. Approximately 77% of patients were above the age of 50. The total number of CTCs observed was ~649 with a mean distribution of ~1.69. CTCs with PD-L1 overexpression were observed in 55.35% of patients (n = 266). Higher CTC prevalence was observed in lung cancer (24.75%), followed by colorectal cancer (21.57%) and breast cancer (5.89%). CTC clusters were observed in 10.18% of patient samples. Notably, concurrent positivity for both CTCs and PD-L1 expression was most prevalent in lung cancer patients, suggesting a potential aggressive disease phenotype and therapeutic vulnerability. Conclusions The findings support the integrated use of CTCs and their PD-L1 expression as a composite biomarker strategy to stratify patients for targeted therapies, immunotherapeutic interventions, and longitudinal monitoring. 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

TEDx Talk — by Aravindan Vasudevan – CEO, Actorius Innovations and Research Expert Insights 28 February 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

Marathi news report on early cancer recurrence detection using liquid biopsy. Press Release 29 August 2019 Early Detection of Cancer Recurrence Now Possible in Marathi A feature highlighting innovative liquid biopsy technology that enables early detection of cancer recurrence, with expert insights from Dr. Jayant Khandare of Actorius Innovations and Research in Marathi News Paper This news feature discusses advancements in cancer diagnostics that make early detection of recurrence possible through cutting-edge liquid biopsy techniques. Dr. Jayant Khandare explains how circulating tumor cell–based testing can help monitor disease progression, guide treatment decisions, and improve patient outcomes. The report emphasizes the growing cancer burden and the importance of accessible, minimally invasive diagnostic solutions in India. 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

The POP device effectively removes CTCs from blood to reduce metastatic progression. Publications 15 July 2020 ASCO 2020: Device for the enumeration and continuous removal of circulating tumor cells in improving overall survival of epithelial cancer patients The POP blood fluidic device safely removes CTCs with up to 100% efficiency, offering a new therapeutic path to reduce metastasis and improve survival. Background: The presence of circulating tumor cells (CTC) in the vascular system is a tell-tale signature of metastasis in epithelial origin cancers including lung, breast, colorectal and head and neck cancers. Noteworthy, about 90% of cancer deaths are due to the progression of metastasis. Yet, cancer therapy is focussed on inhibiting tumour growth and there is a paucity of options that target metastasis. We demonstrate the POP ‘device’ that removes circulating tumour cells (CTC) from a patient’s blood to reduce the metastatic progression and improve overall survival. Methods: We designed, multi-component glass beads enriched antibody EpCAM conjugate substrates as POP blood fluidic device. We characterized the substrate and accounted for the biocompatibility using whole blood of healthy volunteers. We evaluated, the acute toxicity of substrates using rat (Wistar Albino) whole blood (CPCSEA registration number: 941/PO/Re/S/06/CPCSEA; 31/07/2019) and further studied major histopathological tissues for any toxicity. Finally, we evaluated 06 cancer patients whole blood (1.5 mL) for capturing and for the elimination of CTCs. The captured cells were immuno-stained, and the optimal fluorescence acquisition intensity was critically quantified in accounting CK18 protein overexpression. Results: The multi-component antibody EpCAM based substrate exhibited efficient CTC capture ability with a mean capture efficiency ranging from 40% to 100 % when compared to the OncoDiscover CTC test approved by CDSCO/ drug controller general of India (DCGI). Furthermore, the substrate indicated high biocompatibility primarily exhibited by the absence of haemolysis on whole human blood. Additionally, the preliminary animal experiments in rats showed a 100% survival rate and negligible toxicity to major organs. Conclusions: Removal of circulating tumor cells as a therapeutics is highly implicated in improving the overall survival of epithelial cancer patients. 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

OncoDiscover: affordable, rapid CTC platform for HNC patients in developing nations. Publications 4 June 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

Bioinspired Materials for Wearable Devices and Point-of-Care Testing of Cancer Publications 27 April 2022 Manuscript: Bioinspired Materials for Wearable Devices and Point-of-Care Testing of Cancer Raj Shankar Hazra, Md Rakib Hasan Khan, Narendra Kale, Tabassum Tanha, Jayant Khandare, Sabha Ganai, and Mohiuddin Quadir* Wearable, point-of-care diagnostics, and biosensors are on the verge of bringing transformative changes in detection, management, and treatment of cancer. Bioinspired materials with new forms and functions have frequently been used, in both translational and commercial spaces, to fabricate such diagnostic platforms. Engineered from organic or inorganic molecules, bioinspired systems are naturally equipped with biorecognition and stimuli-sensitive properties. Mechanisms of action of bioinspired materials are deeply connected with thermodynamically or kinetically controlled self-assembly at the molecular and supramolecular levels. Thus, integration ofbioinspired materials into wearable devices, either as triggers or sensors, brings about unique device properties usable for detection, capture, or rapid readout for an analyte of interest. In this review, we present the basic principles and mechanisms of action of diagnostic devices engineered from bioinspired materials, describe current advances, and discuss future trends of the field, particularly in the context of cancer. 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

Dynamic device captures CTCs safely, enabling monitoring and metastatic control. Publications 3 June 2025 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. Background Primary tumors are known to shed circulating tumor cells (CTCs), promoting systemic dissemination and increasing the risk of metastasis to distant organs. Approximately 90% of cancer-related deaths are directly associated with metastasis. Several studies in animal models suggest improved overall survival following reduction in the number of CTCs in circulation. In this study, we demonstrate the capture of CTCs using a continuous blood-flow device incorporating three-dimensional glass substrates (3D GS) conjugated with affinity ligands, including anti-epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) antibody and transferrin (Tf), in cancer patients. Methods A bi-spiral, plano-horizontal, optically transparent device fabricated from biocompatible resin with multiple channels for continuous blood flow was designed using a 3D printer. The circulation device comprised 14 loops capable of holding 17.5 mL of blood and containing 680 glass substrates (2 mm diameter) conjugated with anti-EpCAM antibody and transferrin. The system was mechanized for functional circulation using three pumps. Pyrogenicity resulting from blood passage through the device was evaluated in three New Zealand White rabbits according to ISO:10993-11 guidelines for systemic toxicity assessment. Additionally, 27 blood samples from patients with early- and late-stage cancers across nine cancer types, including colorectal, lung, breast, and ovarian cancers, were processed using the OncoDialysis assay. The cohort consisted of 48.15% male and 51.85% female patients. CTCs were captured using five glass substrates from 1.5–5 mL of blood and validated using CK18 and CD45 markers through fluorescence microscopy. Samples were also analyzed using the Drug Controller, India–approved OncoDiscover technology for comparative evaluation. Results No hemolysis was observed as a result of the device. Continuous circulation of up to 5 mL of blood successfully demonstrated CTC capture within the flow system. All rabbits remained healthy during testing, and none exhibited an individual temperature increase of 0.5°C or more compared with controls, indicating no systemic toxicity. The OncoDialysis assay detected CTCs in 48.15% of patients (n = 13/27), yielding a total of 14 CTCs (12 single CTCs and 2 clusters), with a mean CTC distribution of 0.51 per 1–5 mL of blood. The OncoDiscover platform isolated 23 CTCs (18 single CTCs and 5 clusters), with a mean CTC distribution of 0.8. A concurrence rate of 74.07% was observed between the two platforms. In 40.74% of cases (n = 11/27), CTCs were detected by both systems. Conclusions We developed a dynamic in vitro blood circulation device with demonstrated safety in animal studies, capable of selectively capturing circulating tumor cells from patient blood. Reduction of CTC burden may hold significant therapeutic potential in limiting metastatic spread and improving overall survival in epithelial-origin cancers, both in treated and untreated settings. 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