Actorius Innovations at ASCO Annual Meeting 2026 Publications 2 June 2026 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. Abstract Background Tumor thrombus (TT) refers to the direct extension of tumor cells into a blood vessel and is often detected incidentally. It is commonly observed in renal cell carcinoma (RCC), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and Wilms tumor. The presence of TT significantly worsens prognosis and alters disease staging. TT is frequently located in vessels such as the renal vein, inferior vena cava, and portal vein, requiring multidisciplinary evaluation due to its aggressive nature and risk of obstruction or embolization. Diagnostic differentiation between tumor thrombus and a “bland” thrombus (blood clot) typically relies on imaging techniques such as CT or MRI. In this study, we evaluated the association and potential role of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) expressing immune-relevant markers, such as PD-L1, in patients with tumor thrombus. The presence of CTCs originating from TT margins may help refine risk stratification and therapeutic decision-making. Methods In this observational study, 12 patients aged 51–80 years with confirmed tumor thrombus were analyzed. The cohort included patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, n = 4), pancreatic cancer (n = 3), liver cancer (n = 3), renal cell carcinoma (RCC, n = 1), and gallbladder cancer (GB, n = 1). Blood samples were analyzed for the presence of CTCs with PD-L1 expression at baseline, and three patients also had follow-up samples. Samples were processed using the CDSCO-approved OncoDiscover CTC enrichment technology. CTCs were identified using an automated Zeiss microscope based on EpCAM⁺, CK18⁺, DAPI⁺, CD45⁻, and PD-L1⁺ markers. Results A total of 16 CTCs were detected in 10 patients (83.33%) from 1.5 mL blood samples, with counts ranging from 1 to 6 CTCs per patient. At baseline, patients with HCC, pancreatic, RCC, gallbladder, and other cancers showed the presence of PD-L1–expressing CTCs. Follow-up samples revealed persistent CTC positivity, although the number of PD-L1–positive CTCs decreased. The mean CTC distribution was 1.33 for CK18-expressing CTCs. PD-L1–positive CTCs were detected in a substantial subset, with a mean distribution of 0.67 (9 CTCs among 12 patients), indicating immune-evasive potential. CTC clusters were rare and detected in only one HCC patient but persisted during follow-up. Both male and female patients demonstrated comparable CTC positivity. Conclusion The presence of CTCs in peripheral blood highlights active tumor cell dissemination from tumor thrombus margins. Although CTC clusters were infrequent, their occurrence may indicate an increased metastatic risk. This study demonstrates, for the first time, the presence of CTCs originating from tumor thrombus margins entering systemic circulation. Further studies are required to better understand their clinical implications. 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

Dual ctDNA and CTC biomarkers improve detection of cancer progression. Publications 3 June 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

Comprehensive ctDNA and CTC profiling predicts metastasis in early breast cancer. Publications 15 January 2023 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. Background Genomic profiling has revolutionized precision oncology, impacting diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy decisions. Considering the high spatiotemporal diversity and heterogeneity of breast tumor-cell genomes, small-gene panels often fail to capture rare but important genomic alterations. Conversely, comprehensive ctDNA sequencing approaches enable the identification of under-characterized 'long-tailed driver' genomic alterations and capture intra- and inter-metastatic heterogeneity. Here, we demonstrate the clinical utility of comprehensive genome profiling with higher sensitivity to predict the possibility of metastasis in early-stage breast cancer patients. Methods We retrospectively analyzed ctDNA and genomic DNA (gDNA) from FFPE samples, as well as circulating tumor cells (CTCs), in 10 treatment-naive, hormone-positive, and HER2-negative primary-stage breast cancer patients using the OncoIndx comprehensive 600-gene panel. The panel captures all important cancer-relevant genomic alterations, including tumor mutation burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) prediction, and cfDNA tumor fraction (TF). CTCs were enumerated from 1.5 ml of blood using the OncoDiscover platform, approved by the Drug Controller General of India, using anti-EpCAM antibody-mediated immunomagnetic nanoparticles. CTCs were confirmed for cytokeratin 18+ and DAPI+ markers, and the absence of CD45. Results The comprehensive genomic profile obtained from ctDNA and gDNA from the FFPE of early-stage breast cancer patients predominantly exhibited the presence of alterations in PIK3CA and ESR1 signaling pathways. PIK3CA mutations were present in 77% and 44% of baseline ctDNA and gDNA samples, while ESR1 mutations were present in 44% and 22% of baseline ctDNA and gDNA, respectively. In addition, we observed about 70% additional driver mutations in ctDNA samples, suggesting the shedding of ctDNA together with CTCs (80% positive) as a likely positive biomarker of metastasis. About 50% of the patients showed higher TMB and HRD. Notably, TF representing ctDNA varied between 13% to 27% in blood samples with a corresponding ploidy range of 2.9 to 4.7. Surprisingly, ~50% of the patient population matched the mutation profile of clinically confirmed metastatic patients. All the patients harboring potential metastatic driver alterations showed the presence of CTCs in peripheral blood. Conclusions Comprehensive ctDNA genomic profiling showed potential metastasis-driving alterations, suggesting the role of ctDNA-based liquid biopsy to predict metastasis in early breast cancer patients. We observed enhanced TF at the time of diagnosis, possibly due to the presence of distant metastasis, high disease burden, and aggressive tumor biology. Our results suggest that ctDNA dynamics at the time of disease presentation can predict early metastasis and may demonstrate the divergent response of tumor heterogeneity to treatment in early-stage breast cancer. 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

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

CTC counts correlate with nodal stage and aggressive features in Indian HNC patients. Publications 7 March 2026 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. Objectives To establish a rapid, highly specific, efficient, sensitive, and affordable CTC enumeration liquid biopsy technology and to validate its efficacy to isolate CTCs disseminating from epithelial tumors of the HNC subpopulation in India. Furthermore, the study aimed to investigate the correlation of CTC distribution from peripheral blood with respect to various clinicopathologic factors in these patients. Materials and Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using peripheral blood from 350 enrolled HNC patients. CTCs were isolated using DCGI (India) approved technology that exploits EpCAM-based immunomagnetic separation. EpCAM+ tumor cells were isolated from only 1.5 ml of blood and critically assayed for cytokeratin 18 (CK18) expression. These cells were quantified using fluorescence imaging to obtain a threshold to further minimize nonspecific and false-positive enumeration. CTC enumeration was subsequently subjected to statistical correlation with various clinical and pathologic parameters. Results CTCs were detected in all HNC patients across various subsites. There was a minimum threshold of at least 12 CTCs in early oral cancer patients according to their clinicopathologic signatures. Compared to early oral cancer patients, advanced nodal patients showed a 40% escalation in CTC count, while an increase of up to 80% was observed when associated with aggressive features such as lymphovascular emboli (LVE) and extranodal extensions. Notably, laryngopharyngeal primary cases had the highest mean CTC count of 33 in 1.5 ml of blood. Conversely, patients with advanced disease had higher CTC counts, and this was staggered in comparison with nearly—but not all—clinical features. Remarkably, a higher clinical N (nodal) stage statistically correlated with increased CTC counts. A marked increase in CTCs was also seen in tumors that showed lymphovascular emboli on histopathology and extranodal extension. The CTC counts were independent of parameters such as age, sex, T stage, perineural invasion, bone involvement, or skin involvement. There was a notable trend toward reduced CTC counts after chemotherapy; however, it was not statistically significant. Conclusion This rapid and efficient CTC platform has been clinically validated for use in Indian HNC phenotypes. This is the first comprehensive study to show a staggering positive correlation between CTCs and various clinicopathologic factors, encompassing the largest number of oral cancer patients across the entire spectrum of HNSCC—the most common cancer in India. High CTC counts among HNC patients could possibly be one of the reasons for dismal outcomes, and further studies correlating CTCs with patient survival in HNC are warranted. However, this study strongly implicates the prospective utility of CTCs as a tumor marker in establishing clinical staging for HNC 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

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 together with Shh and Nrf2 are prospective diagnostic markers for HNSCC Publications 4 April 2024 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. Background The lack of appropriate prognostic biomarkers remains a significant obstacle in the early detection of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC), a cancer type with a high mortality rate. Despite considerable advancements in treatment, the success in diagnosing HNSCC at an early stage still needs to be improved. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) are overexpressed in various cancers, including HNSCC, and have recently been proposed as possible therapeutic targets for HNSCC. Circulating Tumor Cell (CTC) is a novel concept used for the early detection of cancers, and studies have suggested that a higher CTC count is associated with the aggressiveness of HNSCC and poor survival rates. Therefore, we aimed to establish molecular markers for the early diagnosis of HNSCC considering Shh/Nrf2 overexpression in the background. In addition, the relation between Shh/Nrf2 and CTCs is still unexplored in HNSCC patients. Methods In the present study, we selected a cohort of 151 HNSCC patients and categorized them as CTC positive or negative based on the presence or absence of CTCs in their peripheral blood. Data on demographic and clinicopathological features with the survival of the patients were analyzed to select the patient cohort to study Shh/Nrf2 expression. Shh and Nrf2 expression was measured by qRT-PCR. Results Considering significant demographic [smoking, betel leaf (p-value < 0.0001)] and clinicopathological risk factors [RBC count (p < 0.05), Platelet count (p < 0.05), Neutrophil count (p < 0.005), MCV (p < 0.0001), NLR (p < 0.05), MLR (p < 0.05)], patients who tested positive for CTC also exhibited significant overexpression of Shh/Nrf2 in both blood and tissue compared to CTC-negative patients. A strong association exists between CTCs and tumor grade. Following chemotherapy (a combination of Cisplatin, 5FU, and Paclitaxel), the frequency of CTCs was significantly decreased in patients with HNSCC who had tested positive for CTCs. The Kaplan–Meier plot illustrated that a higher number of CTCs is associated with poorer overall survival (OS) in patients with HNSCC. 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

Inverse 3D lab-on-chip microfilms for selective CTC capture from blood. Publications 15 July 2024 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. Engineering inverse 3D polymeric microfilms with controlled spatial hierarchy is both highly challenging and critically important at the intersection of biology and materials science. These structures hold significant potential for enhancing selective cell–surface interactions, including cell adhesion and growth. Protein-modified inverse 3D polymeric microfilms can further promote selective cell capture and adhesion. In this study, we report the fabrication of inverse 3D polymeric microfilms using composite polymeric–bioligand conjugated films designed to enhance the capture of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from the blood of cancer patients. The microfilms were developed using functionalized poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), mediated with the ligand transferrin. Protein immobilization on the films was achieved by conjugating transferrin (Tf), collagen (Co), and bovine serum albumin (BSA) to promote cellular adhesion and capture. The films were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR), and contact angle measurements, revealing micropores ranging from 18–26 μm. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) demonstrated enhanced cell attachment on the polymeric-blend microfilms, confirming improved cell adhesion, capture, and the ability of cells to proliferate within the 3D structure. The inverse 3D polymeric microfilms achieved an 80% cell capture efficiency with cultured cancer cells. In clinical utility, their CTC capturing efficiency was comparable to OncoDiscover® CTC enumeration technology. These inverse 3D polymeric microfilms represent a novel ‘lab-on-a-chip’ platform capable of enabling CTC enumeration for monitoring minimal residual disease (MRD), tracking metastatic progression, evaluating treatment response, and enabling early detection of relapse. 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

Actorius at ESMO 2025 Events 17 October 2025 ESMO 2025 | 17–21 October 2025 Actorius at ESMO 2025 Some Glimpses from ESMO 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

Automated OncoMetastat device enables CTC removal to support cancer therapy outcomes. Publications 3 November 2025 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. Introduction Despite no radiological evidence of minimal residual disease, up to 25–50% of colorectal cancer (CRC) stage II–III and breast cancer cases experience relapse. Identifying patients at risk of recurrence remains challenging, as approximately 90% of cancer-related deaths are associated with metastasis. The role of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in extravasation and seeding of distant organs is well established; however, their extracorporeal isolation has not been widely demonstrated in routine practice. Current ex vivo CTC isolation systems often require complex setups and extensive manual handling. In this study, we present an automated device designed to capture and remove CTCs from whole blood using biocompatible cartridges mediated by antibody- and transferrin-conjugated glass bead substrates. Methods We developed the OncoMetastat touchscreen-based operational control device, integrating six roller peristaltic pumps and a cartridge containing 680 targeting 2 mm glass beads functionalized with anti-epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) antibodies and transferrin protein. The device housing (365 × 200 × 30 mm) contains a bi-spiral channel (95 × 95 × 10 mm) with 680 beads and eight cross-section channels (3.50 × 3.55 mm). A 3D-printed spring-loaded quick-release mechanism ensures secure tube attachment and rapid cartridge exchange. Flow performance, hemolysis, protein adsorption, and leukocyte interaction were evaluated using blood samples from healthy individuals and cancer patients across multiple cancer types, including breast, CRC, lung, and head and neck cancers. Pyrogenicity was assessed in rabbits according to ISO 10993-11 guidelines. Results The device maintained stable blood circulation at 0.5 mL/min for 5–10 mL whole blood samples using a dual snap-fit holder with a 2° angled offset. The peristaltic pump ensured consistent flow without compromising sample integrity. The bead-filled spiral channel effectively retained CTCs, while the integrated design reduced manual handling and improved reproducibility. Low hemolysis (1%), along with reduced serum protein and leukocyte interactions, was observed in both healthy and cancer patient samples. Selective CTC capture was demonstrated in 24 clinical samples across cancer types. All materials passed pyrogenicity testing, with no temperature elevation observed in accordance with guidelines. Conclusions The OncoMetastat device successfully depleted CTCs from cancer patient whole blood without adversely affecting blood components. The automated system provides stable blood flow and demonstrates proof of performance for extracorporeal CTC removal, with potential to enhance cancer therapy outcomes. 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 17 October 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