CTC-based PD-L1 and EGFR detection supports targeted therapy in lung cancer. Publications | 24 October 2023 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. Background: Targeted molecular therapy and immunotherapy have revolutionized the treatment of advanced lung cancer (ALC). Although therapeutically significant, the outcome of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) or tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) depends on the presence of their respective targets in tumor cells. Evaluating targets based on solid tissue biopsy may often be misleading, particularly in progressive patients despite therapy administration. Additionally, tissue biopsy provides a static signature of target protein expression from an evolving tumor. The unmet need for dynamic detection and monitoring of actionable targets could be addressed by circulating tumor cells (CTCs). Here, we report on the utility of CTCs to detect actionable targets in advanced lung cancer (ALC) patients. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 193 ALC patients for programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and EGFR expression on CTCs. CTCs were isolated using the Drug Controller General of India-approved OncoDiscover technology based on immunomagnetic targeting using anti-EpCAM antibodies and immunostaining with anti-EGFR and PD-L1 antibodies. CTCs were detected based on the expression of cytokeratins (CKs), absence of CD45, and prominent DAPI-stained nuclei. The presence or absence of EGFR and PD-L1 was determined using automated immunofluorescence microscopy. Results: Among the evaluated cohort, 67% of patients showed the presence of CTCs with a mean value of 4.2 (range: 1 to 62; SD = 10.65). The absence of CTCs in the remaining 33% of patients could be attributed to therapy response in clinically stable disease. Among all patients showing the presence of CTCs, 66% showed detectable expression of PD-L1, while 42% showed strong expression of EGFR. The presence of PD-L1 demonstrated a significant association with CTCs. Similarly, the expression of EGFR among detected CTCs showed high significance compared to reported tissue biopsy data in the literature. Conclusions: Detection of therapeutic targets on CTCs obtained from advanced lung cancer patients strongly indicates that these patients may qualify for anti-EGFR and PD-L1 targeted therapies. Systematic studies with larger sample sizes are required to further strengthen liquid biopsy–based detection of actionable targets. This approach could significantly benefit advanced lung cancer patients showing progressive disease despite chemotherapy or radiotherapy. 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

Discover Actorius' journey. Learn how our innovation-driven, impact-obsessed start-up is revolutionizing early cancer detection. Our story so far An innovation-driven organisation 11000+ Patients Served 450+ Doctors Trust Us 100+ Publications 13+ Years of Excellence Innovation Driven Impact-obsessed Who we are About Actorius We innovate and create bio materials that have critical applications in the field of life sciences, drug delivery and medical diagnostics. We work with a vision to advance and improve human health. Trusted by: Mission, Vision & Purpose Innovating with Intent Our mission, vision, and purpose reflect our commitment to meaningful progress and measurable outcomes. Mission To develop innovative methodologies to develop diagnostic tests that provide early indicators of oncogenesis and enable informed treatment strategies. Vision To collectively advance and improve human health by developing biomedical innovations into practical applications that have wider reach, accessibility and affordability. Purpose To positively impact everyone, by developing solutions that have reduced time to decision making and providing precise information for a chosen course of action. Our Values What We Stand For Our values define our commitment to rigorous science, responsibility, and meaningful impact. Work on challenges with cutting-edge science and innovation. Work towards making it accessible and affordable to the masses. Ensure critical clinical validations for every outcome. Bio-materials with high specificity, efficiency and sensitivity. Scientific disciplines with interdisciplinary intelligence at the core. Take every little step to ensure cancer patient’s lives are saved. Accreditations/ Patents CDSCO Approved License No. MFG/IVD/2019/000031 NABL Certified Lab Certificate No. NABLM0726MH08160 ISO certified ISO 13485:2016 by INTERTEK; Certificate No. 0140783 Patented International Application No. PCT/IB2016/050779 Focused on creating novel cancer diagnostic tests. Know more Rigour in every action. Every product undergoes intense design and development. Leaving no stone unturned. We follow the most stringent quality norms like ISO13485 and NABL regulatory requirements. Passionate and emphatic. We are committed to developing solutions for unmet medical needs. We build high-risk innovative products, which have a very long life-cycle, using novel biomaterials. Licences License No: MFG / IVD2019 / 000004 License Name: MD 29 – Permission to import or manufacture new in-vitro diagnostic medical device. Licensing Authority: Central Drug Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO), New Delhi, India. License No: MFG / IVD2019 / 000031 License Name: MD 9 – License to Manufacture for Sale or for Distribution of Class C or Class D medical device. Licensing Authority: Central Drug Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO), New Delhi, India. ISO 13485:2016 Certified NABL Accredited Laboratory Detect cancer relapse early, when it can be cured. We are committed to bringing stakeholders together to adopt innovative, safe, and effective technologies that can transform cancer care. India has a breakthrough in early cancer detection. Know More

OncoDiscover Lab Walkthrough Expert Insight | 9 August 2022 OncoDiscover Lab Walkthrough OncoDiscover Lab Walkthrough Know more Stay One Step Ahead of Cancer. Get the latest news and innovations from Actorius delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for regular updates Email* Yes, subscribe me for regular updates. * Subscribe

CTC profiling of PD-L1, HER2, and EGFR guides targeted cancer therapies. Publications | 19 April 2023 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. Background Small molecular inhibitors and immunotherapy have emerged as a novel alternative treatment regime for a variety of epithelial cancers. A large number of clinical trials are in progress worldwide to gauge the efficacy of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) or immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) against actionable targets such as receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and program death ligand 1 (PD-L1). Although highly effective, the outcome of PD-L1 based ICI or TKI against RTKs is vitally contingent on the presence of PD-L1 or RTK expression on cancer cells. Determining druggable targets on the basis of solid biopsy could be often misleading, especially if a patient has progressed in spite of chemotherapy. This could be due to the intrinsic heterogeneity of tumor cells or therapeutic selection pressure or both, leading to alteration in the expression profile of the targets. Additionally, the immunohistochemistry result depends on a multitude of quality controls such as age and integrity of a biopsy sample, lab-to-lab variations in tissue block preparation, and degradation of targets due to chemical fixation methods. This unmet need of reliable detection and monitoring of actionable target expression could be addressed by circulating tumor cells (CTCs) based liquid biopsy tests. To this end, we have developed a CTC-based liquid biopsy assay to detect PD-L1, HER2, and EGFR expression in different epithelial cancers. Methods We retrospectively evaluated peripheral blood samples from a total of 134 carcinoma patients for the presence of CTCs expressing PD-L1, HER2, or EGFR markers respectively. Among these, 45% of patients had lung cancer, while 25% and 20% presented with breast, GI, and colorectal (CRC) malignancies. The remaining were gall bladder, ovarian, prostate, and head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. All lung cancer patients were analyzed for CTCs expressing PD-L1. CTCs were isolated from DCGI-approved OncoDiscover technology based on immunomagnetic targeting of epithelial cell surface molecules (EpCAM). EpCAM-targeted, magnetically isolated cells were considered CTCs on the basis of expression of cytokeratins, absence of CD45, and prominent presence of DAPI-stained nuclei. The presence or absence of aforesaid markers was determined using automated fluorescence imaging. Expression of PD-L1, HER2, or EGFR was detected by fluorescence microscopy using fluorescently labeled anti-PD-L1, HER2, or EGFR antibodies respectively. Based on fluorescence intensity, CTCs were binned as PD-L1, HER2, or EGFR negative for no detectable fluorescence signal, or weakly or strongly positive based on low or high fluorescence signal. Results Among the evaluated cohort, 51% of all CTCs showed the presence of PD-L1 expression, while 63% showed HER2-positive CTCs (all from breast cancer patients). 20% from the PD-L1 positive population showed strong PD-L1 expression. 78% of CTCs from lung cancer patients showed the presence of a detectable PD-L1 signal, while 66% of breast, GI, and CRC patients showed CTCs with PD-L1 expression. CTCs from HNC and gall bladder cancer patients showed the least PD-L1 expression (25% and 50% respectively). Among CTCs originating from different cancer types, breast cancer CTCs showed higher mean expression of PD-L1 compared to CTCs from colorectal cancer patients. A clear subset of CTCs for PD-L1 and HER2 expression was observed in lung and breast cancer patients respectively, suggesting heterogeneity in expression or the presence of different subclones within the same tumor type. Among all CTCs evaluated for EGFR expression, 50% showed the presence of detectable EGFR compared to the cut-off value. Conclusions CTCs isolated from cancers of epithelial origin showed the presence of PD-L1. Similarly, CTCs obtained from breast and lung cancer patients showed HER2 and EGFR expression respectively. Our data suggest that CTCs can be used as a real-time surrogate for molecular profiling of PD-L1, HER2, and EGFR expression, besides being a prognostic marker. Detection of PD-L1, HER2, and EGFR in CTCs offers a potential and viable alternative for immunotherapy or targeted therapy decisions in a vast majority of epithelial cancers. Know more Stay One Step Ahead of Cancer. Get the latest news and innovations from Actorius delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for regular updates Email* Yes, subscribe me for regular updates. * Subscribe

A cost-effective, high-efficiency nanosystem for rapid circulating tumor cell enumeration. Patents | 13 February 2023 Devices and methods for recovering disease-causing toxic constituents in the blood A cost-effective, high-efficiency nanosystem for rapid circulating tumor cell enumeration. The present disclosure relates to non-hemolytic blood compatible devices and methods for capture, enumeration, removal of disease-causing agents from the blood and for the treatment of the cancer patients. The said devices incorporating non-hemolytic compositions are useful for removing disease-causing agents 'ex vivo' from cancer patient's blood to prevent/delay the proliferation of cancer. The devices retain disease-causing agents in particular Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs), allowing the passage of other blood constituents retaining the viability of hematopoietic cells. Related patent documents WO/2023/229674 CA3255372 IN202527040253 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

Product Manager Publication Date: 26 Aug 2026 | Last Application Date: 6 Oct 2026 Apply Now Department Product & Marketing Location Mumbai, India Experience 3-5 years Role Overview The Product Manager will own the commercial and strategic lifecycle of Actorius products, working closely with scientific, clinical, sales and marketing teams to translate product capabilities into market-ready solutions. Key Responsibilities Develop and maintain product strategy and roadmap. Understand clinical, customer and market requirements. Work closely with scientific and technical teams to understand product capabilities. Translate technical and scientific information into customer-facing value propositions. Develop product positioning, messaging and sales enablement materials. Conduct market research and competitive analysis. Identify new market opportunities and customer segments. Support product launches and market-expansion initiatives. Work closely with Sales and Marketing teams on product adoption. Develop product presentations, FAQs, brochures, training materials and other collateral. Conduct product training for internal sales teams. Gather customer feedback and convert insights into product-development recommendations. Monitor product performance, market acceptance and competitive positioning. Support conferences, medical events and customer engagements. Ensure product communication remains scientifically accurate and compliant. Qualifications & Skills Bachelor's/Master's degree in Biotechnology, Life Sciences, Pharmacy, Medicine, Biomedical Sciences or a related field. MBA in Marketing/Product Management is an advantage. 3–5 years of product management experience , preferably in diagnostics, IVD, medical devices, pharma or biotechnology. Strong understanding of healthcare products and customer journeys. Ability to understand scientific literature and communicate technical information clearly. Excellent presentation, analytical and stakeholder-management skills. What We Look For At Actorius, we value people who combine ownership, curiosity, scientific thinking and execution . We look for professionals who are: Passionate about healthcare and meaningful innovation. Comfortable working in a fast-growing, innovation-driven environment. Curious and willing to learn. Strong in communication and collaboration. Focused on outcomes and accountability. Comfortable working across functions. Ethical and professional in their approach. Motivated by the opportunity to contribute to technologies that can impact cancer care. About Actorius Actorius Innovations & Research Pvt. Ltd. is an innovation-driven biotechnology and medical diagnostics company focused on developing technologies that address critical challenges in cancer care. From breakthrough research to clinically meaningful diagnostics, Actorius works at the intersection of biotechnology, biomaterials, circulating tumor cells (CTCs), liquid biopsy and oncology diagnostics . Our goal is to translate deep scientific understanding into practical technologies that can help clinicians make more informed decisions and improve patient outcomes. Our flagship OncoDiscover® CTC Test is India's first DCGI/CDSCO-approved blood test for detecting circulating tumor cells and supporting cancer monitoring. Actorius also continues to develop advanced technologies such as OncoMetastat® , alongside its broader research and diagnostic platforms. We are looking for dynamic thinkers, problem-solvers and doers who want to work on meaningful challenges in healthcare and contribute to technologies that can make a difference in cancer care. Why Join Actorius? Work on Meaningful Healthcare Challenges Contribute to technologies focused on cancer diagnostics, CTCs, liquid biopsy and oncology. Be Part of an Innovation-Driven Organisation Work alongside scientists, clinicians, business leaders and healthcare professionals. Learn Across Disciplines Actorius encourages interdisciplinary thinking across science, technology, diagnostics, marketing, sales and operations. Build With Purpose Our work is driven by the belief that better biological insights can contribute to better healthcare decisions. Grow With the Organisation Join a growing team where ownership, initiative and individual contribution matter. How to Apply Click the below link to apply. Candidates are encouraged to clearly mention the position and preferred location in their application. Apply Now

Dr. Jayant Khandare interview with Metro News Gujarat Press Release | 9 August 2022 Revolutionary OncoDiscover® Blood Test for Early Cancer Detection - Metro News Gujarat Dr. Jayant Khandare interview with Metro News Gujarat 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

Explore our Actorius Innovation's Terms & Conditions. Understand your rights and obligations with our comprehensive Terms & Conditions. Terms & Conditions Date Updated: 03 March 2026 Welcome to the official website of Actorius Innovations & Research Pvt. Ltd., accessible at [https://actorius.in ] (the “Website”). By accessing or using this Website, you agree to comply with and be bound by the following Terms and Conditions. Please review them carefully. 1. Acceptance of Terms By accessing, browsing, or using this Website, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to be bound by these Terms and Conditions, along with our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with any part of these terms, you must discontinue use of the Website immediately. 2. Use of the Website The content on this Website is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is subject to change without prior notice. You agree to use this Website solely for lawful purposes and in a manner that does not infringe the rights of, restrict, or inhibit the use of this Website by any third party. Any unauthorised use, misuse, or abuse of this Website may give rise to a claim for damages and/or be a criminal offence under applicable Indian laws. 3. Intellectual Property Rights All content on this Website, including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, icons, images, illustrations, videos, audio, software, design elements, and data compilations, is the property of Actorius Innovations & Research Pvt. Ltd. or its licensors and is protected by applicable Indian and international intellectual property laws. You may not copy, reproduce, modify, republish, upload, post, transmit, distribute, or exploit any content from this Website in any form or by any means without prior written permission from Actorius Innovations & Research Pvt. Ltd. 4. Third-Party Links This Website may contain links to third-party websites or resources provided for convenience or informational purposes only. Such links do not constitute an endorsement, sponsorship, or recommendation by Actorius Innovations & Research Pvt. Ltd. We have no control over the content, policies, or practices of third-party websites and accept no responsibility or liability for any loss or damage arising from your use of such websites. 5. Disclaimer of Warranties and Limitation of Liability This Website and its content are provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis. Actorius Innovations & Research Pvt. Ltd. makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, reliability, suitability, or availability of the Website or its content. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Actorius Innovations & Research Pvt. Ltd. shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or exemplary damages, including but not limited to loss of profits, data, goodwill, or other intangible losses, arising out of or in connection with your use of, or inability to use, the Website. Nothing in these Terms shall exclude or limit any liability that cannot be excluded under applicable Indian law. 6. Indemnification You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Actorius Innovations & Research Pvt. Ltd., its directors, officers, employees, affiliates, partners, agents, and licensors from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, or expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from: Your use or misuse of the Website Your violation of these Terms and Conditions Your infringement of any intellectual property or other rights of any third party 7. Governing Law and Jurisdiction These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India. You agree that any disputes arising out of or relating to these Terms or the use of the Website shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located in [ Pune, Maharashtra, India]. 8. Modifications to Terms Actorius Innovations & Research Pvt. Ltd. reserves the right to revise, modify, or update these Terms and Conditions at any time without prior notice. Any changes will be effective immediately upon posting on the Website. Your continued use of the Website after such changes constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms. 9. Services, Refunds, and Cancellations Where applicable, services offered by Actorius Innovations & Research Pvt. Ltd., including research, diagnostics, analytics, or related scientific and healthcare solutions, are subject to specific terms communicated at the time of engagement. Due to the specialized and scientific nature of our offerings, refunds or cancellations may be limited or not permitted once a service has commenced, data has been processed, or samples/materials have been analyzed. Any requests for cancellation or refund, where applicable, must be submitted in writing through our official communication channels and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. 10. Contact Information If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding these Terms and Conditions, please contact us at: Actorius Innovations & Research Pvt. Ltd. Website: https://actorius.in/ Contact page: https://actorius.in/contact

CTC monitoring detects early HNSCC in chronic tobacco users in Bangladesh. Publications | 8 June 2021 ASCO 2021: CTCs demonstrate a positive biomarker in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in tobacco consuming population of Bangladesh. A study in Bangladesh found CTCs in 64% of HNSCC patients with chronic tobacco history, suggesting CTCs as a screening tool for early cancer detection. Background Tobacco consumption accounts for 1.6 million deaths annually in the South East Asia Region (SEAR). Notably, amongst the 10-20% of the global population consuming betel quid and tobacco, about an 81% concentration is in SEAR regions, including India and Bangladesh. The prevalence of HNSCC in these regions is rising alarmingly. For example, HNCs account for 23% of the total 156,775 cancer incidences in Bangladesh. Liquid biopsy tools are unavailable and expensive for most patients in this region. However, early cancer detection using tumor biomarkers, for example, circulating tumor cells (CTCs), is highly implicated. Furthermore, such biomarkers are being validated and have the potential for screening high-risk patients, such as those with a genetic predisposition or tobacco consumption. We report the first observational study in HNSCC patients in Bangladesh correlating the presence of CTCs to chronic tobacco consumption. Methods The study involved 70 cancer patients and 10 healthy volunteers (no prior cancer history). 87% of the patients had a specified history of chronic tobacco consumption. CTCs were isolated in 1.5 ml of blood using the OncoDiscover Liquid Biopsy Test, which is clinically approved by the Drug Controller General of India, and contains an enriching anti-EPCAM antibody immunomagnetic kit. CTCs are qualified as CK18+, DAPI+, and CD45-. Subsequently, CTCs were imaged using a Zeiss Axio Observer 7 and quantified for Mean Fluorescence Intensity (MFI) for clinicopathological parameters: age/gender, HNSCC sub-population, and CTC distribution. Results This is the 1st study on the Bangladesh phenotype accounting for the presence of CTCs in HNSCC patients. In this population, 34 males (66%) and 10 females (52%) accounted for 91 CTCs. CTC distribution was 0 to 6 with a mean and median of ~ 2.02 and 2, respectively. 25 patients (17 males, 8 females) were negative for any CTCs. Interestingly, 2 patients exhibited CTC clusters indicative of aggressive metastasis, in which 1 patient had no prior tobacco usage or family cancer history. There was no correlation between CTC presence in males (66%) and females (52%). Healthy volunteer samples exhibited no false positives. The MFI values ranged between 23 and 766, with mean and median MFI values of 157 and 96, respectively, indicative of CK overexpression on CTCs of HNSCC patients. Conclusions HNSCC patients with a history of chronic tobacco consumption in Bangladesh correlated with the presence of CTCs in 64% of the cases. Prospectively, CTCs may be validated as a biomarker for screening chronic tobacco users in Bangladesh to detect early cancers and HNSCC. Clinical Trial Information BMRC/Grants/2018/99 (1-100). 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

CTCs and PD-L1 profiling support MRD detection and therapy decisions in ovarian cancer. Publications | 3 June 2024 ASCO 2024: Effect of circulating tumor cells (CTC) and CTC clusters with PD-L1 dynamic biomarker on cellular burden in patients with ovarian cancer. CTCs with PD-L1 expression in ovarian cancer reveal minimal residual disease and may guide immunotherapy and early metastasis monitoring. Background In the precision oncology era, monitoring treatment response using circulating blood-based biomarkers such as circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) is rapidly being evaluated and established. The leading cause of mortality in ovarian cancer patients is delayed diagnosis and the inability to effectively select patients for targeted therapies, including immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) agents. Treatment for ovarian cancer usually involves a combination of surgery and chemotherapy. However, postoperative resection and therapy with curative intent often fail to account for minimal cellular disease (MCD). The dissemination of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) represents minimal residual disease (MRD), which may diffuse and cause micro-metastasis through epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and bio-mechanistic activation in blood circulation. Simultaneous detection of overexpression of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) on CTCs as a dynamic biomarker may be useful for assessing patients for immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. Methods In a retrospective analysis of real-world data, peripheral blood samples from 75 ovarian cancer patients were analyzed for the presence of CTCs, with and without PD-L1 expression, and for the presence of CTC clusters. CTCs were detected using the CDSCO-approved OncoDiscover platform from 1.5 ml of peripheral blood. The platform is a multifunctional magneto-nanosystem mediated by anti-epithelial cellular adhesion molecule (EpCAM) antibodies. CTCs were identified as positive when EpCAM+, CK+, PD-L1+, DAPI+, and CD45- markers were present. PD-L1 expression on CTCs was analyzed based on the linear intensity gradients of fluorescence signals using image acquisition on an automated Zeiss microscope. Results Baseline sample analysis showed that 86% (n = 65) of patients had at least one CTC per 1.5 ml of blood. The CTC distribution ranged from 1 to 9 CTCs. Among the patients with CTCs, 46.15% (n = 30) showed PD-L1 expression. Notably, the highest number of CTCs (~26.7%, n = 23) was observed in the 41–50 age group. Additionally, 8% (n = 6) of the total patients showed the presence of CTC clusters. The presence of CTCs with PD-L1 expression and CTC clusters did not show a correlation with factors such as staging, follow-ups, metastasis, or disease-free survival (DFS) status. Conclusions We observed the presence of minimal cellular disease (MCD) and minimal residual disease (MRD) in ovarian cancer patients despite treatment with curative intent. Detection of CTCs, CTC clusters, and PD-L1 overexpression as real-time dynamic biomarkers may help assess early metastasis, disease progression, and regression. These biomarkers may also support the selection of patients suitable for immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy when tissue samples are inadequate or unavailable, potentially improving clinical outcomes. Know more Stay One Step Ahead of Cancer. Get the latest news and innovations from Actorius delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for regular updates Email* Yes, subscribe me for regular updates. * Subscribe

PD-L1 CTCs and clusters in gastric cancer support MRD detection and recurrence monitoring. Publications | 3 November 2025 Assessment of PD-L1 Expression on Circulating Tumor Cells and Clusters in Gastric Cancer Patients Circulating tumor cells with PD-L1 expression and clusters are common in gastric cancer, indicating minimal residual disease and recurrence risk. Authors Khandare J, Ghadyalpatil N, Raja T, Velukuru S, Jadhav V, Satape R, Shinde S, Ashturkar A, Dattatreya P, Vasudevan A Affiliations: Actorius Innovations and Research, Pune, Maharashtra, India Apollo Cancer Institute, Hyderabad, Telangana, India Apollo Cancer Centre, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India Aster CMI Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India Renova Soumya Cancer Center, Hyderabad, Telangana, India Introduction Gastric cancer is associated with a high mortality rate, primarily due to late-stage diagnosis, which reduces the effectiveness of treatments such as surgery and results in poor five-year survival outcomes. The rate of metastasis in early-stage gastric cancer (EGC) varies, with reported lymph node metastasis rates ranging from approximately 10% to over 23%, depending on factors such as tumor invasion depth. Although most EGC cases do not initially present with distant metastasis, a substantial proportion of patients are diagnosed at advanced, metastatic stages. In this study, we evaluated gastrointestinal cancer patients for minimal cellular residual disease using circulating tumor cells (CTCs) expressing PD-L1 and the presence of CTC clusters. Methods A total of 58 gastric cancer samples were retrospectively analyzed. CTCs were isolated using the CDSCO India–approved OncoDiscover® CTC Test, which employs immunomagnetic enrichment with anti-EpCAM antibodies. CTCs were identified through immunocytochemical staining as CK18⁺, DAPI⁺, and CD45⁻ cells. Fluorescence imaging was performed using a Zeiss Axio Observer 7 microscope, and signal intensities were quantified. PD-L1 expression on CTCs was also evaluated. Statistical analyses summarized total CTC counts, PD-L1–positive CTCs, and the presence of CTC clusters. Results Among the 58 gastric cancer patient samples analyzed, CTCs were detected in 62.1% (36/58) of cases, while 37.9% (22/58) were CTC-negative. Most samples (93.1%) were collected at baseline, and 6.9% at follow-up. Among CTC-positive cases, PD-L1 expression was observed in 51.7%, while 8.7% were PD-L1-negative. CTC clusters were identified in 83.3% (30/36) of CTC-positive patients. Regarding CTC count distribution, 31.0% of patients had one CTC, 18.9% had two, and 12.07% had three CTCs. For PD-L1–positive CTCs, 14.3% of patients had zero detectable CTCs, 51.4% had one, 25.7% had two, and 8.6% had three CTCs. The mean CTC count across all samples was 1.0, the mean number of PD-L1–positive CTCs was 0.8, and the mean cluster count was 0.1. Demographic analysis showed male predominance (61.1%), with the most represented age group being 61–70 years (29.6%), followed by 41–50 years (22.2%) and 51–60 years (20.4%). Conclusions CTCs, particularly those expressing PD-L1 and forming clusters, are prevalent in gastric cancer patients and may serve as valuable biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis. Their detection may help assess minimal cellular residual disease (MCRD) and identify patients at risk of recurrence. View Publication Stay One Step Ahead of Cancer. Get the latest news and innovations from Actorius delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for regular updates Email* Yes, subscribe me for regular updates. * Subscribe

Large study shows CTCs and clusters predict aggressive epithelial cancer progression. Publications | 10 April 2024 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. Background: The role of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in metastatic cancers for predicting overall survival has been well established. The effectiveness of three- or six-month adjuvant therapy in colorectal cancer estimation has shown an association between CTCs and the emergence of resistant cell clones. The presence of CTC clusters indicates increased aggressiveness in epithelial cancers. However, the presence of CTC clusters has not been evaluated in large patient populations. Here, we demonstrate the distribution and prognostic significance of CTCs and CTC clusters in epithelial cancer patients. Methods: Retrospectively, blood samples from 3458 patients were analyzed for the presence and distribution of CTCs and CTC clusters using the DCGI-approved OncoDiscover platform, which uses an immunomagnetic multicomponent system mediated by an anti-EpCAM antibody. A total of 1.5 mL of peripheral blood was analyzed to capture cells and clusters from head and neck, breast, and lung cancer patients. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the OncoDiscover assay had been previously established. CTCs and clusters were identified using CK18 positive, DAPI positive, and CD45 negative staining with automated motorized fluorescence microscopy. CTC clusters were defined as the presence of two or more CTCs bound together. Results: Out of 3458 epithelial cancer patients, 65.52% (2262 patients) showed the presence of CTCs, with CTC numbers varying from 1–9 per 1.5 mL of blood. Meanwhile, 7.54% of patients showed CTC clusters, corresponding to 261 clusters. The total number of captured CTCs and clusters was 19,345, with a mean distribution of 5.59. Among these, CTCs accounted for 19,037 (98.41%), while clusters accounted for 308 (1.59%). The highest number of CTCs was observed in head and neck cancers (52.98%) and breast cancers (22.75%), followed by lung cancer (5.65%). In contrast, clusters were most frequently observed in breast cancers (26.95%), followed by lung cancer (16.23%). Conclusions: The frequency and distribution of CTCs and CTC clusters were evaluated in epithelial cancers. Patients with CTCs alone and those with both CTCs and CTC clusters represent a more aggressive disease state and a higher likelihood of disease progression. The effectiveness of adjuvant therapy in epithelial cancers may be estimated using CTC and cluster analysis, as their presence may indicate treatment resistance and the emergence of resistant cell clones. 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