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CTC and PD-L1 detection reveals residual disease despite clear radiological scans. Publications 4 June 2024 ASCO 2024: Effect of circulating tumor cells in clinically stable patients on the conundrum of recurrence with cellular residual disease. CTC detection with PD-L1 expression reveals residual disease despite negative radiological findings in treated cancer patients. Background Despite no evidence of disease by radiological imaging, up to 30% of breast cancer cases are known to relapse after treatment with curative intent. The presence of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in stage I–II cancer patients signals the activation of extravasation and invasion processes leading to micro-metastasis and may result in poor outcomes. CTCs in blood circulation at any stage of cancer indicate detectable minimal cellular disease (MCD). Thus, the longitudinal investigation of patients with such biomarkers remains highly important for predicting recurrence, therapy escalation, and dose modifications. The expression of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) on CTCs is a dynamic biomarker, and these cells may escape elimination by the immune system, indicating progression toward a metastatic phenotype. Methods Retrospectively, a cohort of 20 cancer patients (including lung, colorectal, breast, stomach, etc.) who had recently undergone treatment were investigated for the presence of CTCs using the CDSCO-approved OncoDiscover platform. The platform contains multi-component systems conjugated with anti-EpCAM antibodies on magnetic nanoparticles. All patients clinically represented stable disease based on previous radiological findings. CTC enumeration was performed using CD45-, EpCAM+, and CK18+ markers, along with the evaluation of PD-L1 overexpression in 1.5 ml of peripheral blood using automated motorized Zeiss fluorescence microscopy. Results Despite no radiological evidence of disease and clinically stable status, 75% (n = 15) of the selected patients showed at least one CTC. Among them, 55% (n = 11) had one CTC, 5% (n = 1) had two CTCs, and 15% (n = 3) had three CTCs. In addition, 50% (n = 10) of patients demonstrated PD-L1 expression on CTCs, while one patient exhibited a CTC cluster. Conclusions Patients showed circulating residual disease (CRD) despite clinically stable disease, indicating possible progression from localized to secondary disease. Longitudinal monitoring of CTCs with PD-L1 expression may reveal real-time residual disease, progression, regression, and actual response to treatment. CRD monitoring can improve curative outcomes by potentially enhancing progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in solid 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

Pune start-up gets US patent for delivering drugs to site-specific organs Press Release 6 March 2023 Pune start-up gets US patent for delivering drugs to site-specific organs The patent was granted to Actorius Innovations and Research and its team that designed capsule shells using natural polymer to obtain a delayed release profile suitable for delivery of drugs to colon and rectum, said Dr Jayant Khandare, founder-director and Chief Scientific Officer of the start-up. Changes in lifestyle and food habits are leading to many colon related diseases including cancers, he said. Delivery of drugs to colorectal site is most challenging as the dosage forms have to prevent the early release of drug in stomach and intestine, he said. This patent (US Patent No. 11596607) is titled "Polymer based formulation for the release of drugs and bioactives at specific GIT sites". Khandare said the technology composition does not involve cumbersome tablet processing, coating and enteric or other polymers. It also reduces processing cost with increased patient compliance, he added. The start-up completed the bio equivalence study which was approved by Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) in September 2020, Khandare said. Click the link below to read the full article. 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

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

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

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

Real-Time Therapy Response Monitoring Using Surface Biomarkers on Circulating Tumor Cells Publications 27 January 2026 Manuscript: Real-Time Therapy Response Monitoring Using Surface Biomarkers on Circulating Tumor Cells Circulating tumor cells (CTCs), cancer cells shed from primary tumors into the bloodstream, are emerging as dynamic, non-invasive biomarkers for real-time cancer monitoring, especially when tissue biopsies are inaccessible or inadequate... Simple summary Circulating tumor cells (CTCs), which are cancer cells shed from primary tumors into the bloodstream, are emerging as dynamic, non-invasive biomarkers for real-time cancer monitoring, especially when tissue biopsies are inaccessible or inadequate. Unlike static tissue samples, CTCs allow repeated assessments that track tumor evolution, therapeutic response, and minimal residual disease. Hence, CTCs offer a minimally invasive, real-time alternative to tissue biopsies for cancer monitoring, particularly through surface protein biomarkers like PD-L1, HER2, and EGFR. As detection technologies improve and the clinical relevance of CTCs continues to be established, CTC profiling is poised to significantly influence the future of precision oncology. Abstract Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are shed from the primary tumor into the bloodstream and represent dynamic molecular biomarkers for monitoring the progression of cancer. While profiling tumor tissues with overexpression of cell surface markers, such as PD-L1 or HER2, is standard in guiding therapy, tissue samples are often inaccessible and inadequate, especially post-surgery or in cases of recurrence. Emerging clinical evidence indicates that CTC counts and biomarker surface expression can predict prognosis and therapeutic resistance more accurately than imaging or tissue-based approaches. Recent advancements in CTC detection methods, based on physical properties or surface markers (e.g., EpCAM), coupled with next-generation sequencing (NGS), have enabled the isolation of these rare cells and their molecular characterization. Consequently, CTCs provide a real-time alternative, enabling repeated, longitudinal assessment of tumor phenotype and therapeutic response. This review emphasizes the translational potential of surface protein biomarkers on CTCs for profiling, namely PD-L1, HER2, and EGFR, as a clinically actionable approach to stratify patients, guide immunotherapy decisions, and monitor minimal residual disease (MRD), especially when longitudinal tissue biopsies are not feasible. 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

ML models using CTCs predict surgery and adjuvant therapy success in HNSCC. Publications 7 June 2022 ASCO 2022: Machine learning (ML)–enabled, circulating tumor cell–based classification of patients for non-prerequisite adjuvant therapy. An XGBoost ML model using CTCs and clinical data achieved 84% accuracy in predicting the need for adjuvant therapy in 380 HNSCC patients. Background Oncology implicates the highest precision using next-generation diagnostics and progressive therapies assisted by predictive tools. If validated clinically, machine learning (ML) can provide better insights in precision oncology. Furthermore, it may longitudinally stratify the progression of cancer disease burden in real time. We have developed a circulating tumor cells (CTCs) driven ML model as a predictor for the treatment decision strategy for both surgery and adjuvant therapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients. Methods In this study, a total of 380 HNSCC patients who underwent either surgery alone or surgery plus adjuvant therapy were accounted for. CTCs in patients were stratified based on clinicopathological parameters and using the OncoDiscover platform having an anti-EpCAM antibody system regulated by the Drug Controller of India. Following this, we explored the predictive performance of the ML model on the usefulness of adjuvant therapy in HNSCC patients after the surgery. The available data was randomly divided into two subsets. First, 75% of the original data was applied for training the ML, and the rest 25% of the data was used as a test set. Survival curves were generated by the Kaplan–Meier method and calculated through the log-rank test. Results The XGBoost machine learning classifier was superior to Random Forest and SVM-based analyses in predicting the usefulness of adjuvant therapy post-surgery using CTCs alone or in combination with other clinical parameters in HNSCC patients. Machine learning algorithms were compared for predicting the accuracy of patient stratification. The results for each model were: XGBoost model (Accuracy = 0.84, ROC value = 0.73, Kappa = 0.43); Random Forest model (Accuracy = 0.81, ROC value = 0.70, Kappa = 0.41); SVM model (Accuracy = 0.76, ROC value = 0.69, Kappa = 0.40). The ROC value of the XGBoost model was highest (0.73), while the ROC value for the SVM model was lower (0.69). We observed that when CTCs were combined with clinicopathological parameters, the accuracy, kappa values, and AUC-ROC drastically improved in predicting the usefulness of adjuvant therapy post-surgery. A similar trend was observed when CTCs were combined with clinicopathological parameters in predicting the line of chemotherapy post-surgery. Conclusions ML-enabled, CTC-driven predictions can be highly accurate and ascertain the patient treatments. CTCs can be a positive predictor for selecting a patient’s treatment regimen in both surgery as well as in the type of treatment (e.g., surgery alone or surgery + adjuvant therapy). It can also be implicated to classify the patients and determine who necessitates additional adjuvant therapy. Further investigations in this direction are necessary to predict the treatment options based on ML that may improve the overall survival of 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

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

Making cancer detection more accessible and affordable to people Press Release 24 August 2019 Startup Mantra: Making cancer detection more accessible and affordable to people Launching ‘OncoDiscover Liquid Biopsy Test’, a minimally invasive test which can be performed multiple times requiring 1.5ml blood volume... Actorius Innovations and Research Pvt. Ltd. Read full release 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 in sarcoma indicate minimal residual disease and need for monitoring. Publications 9 May 2025 Accounts of circulating tumor cells and CTC clusters with PD-L1 expression in sarcoma patients Study shows circulating tumor cells with PD-L1 expression and clusters in sarcoma, indicating minimal residual disease and need for long-term monitoring. Abstract Background: Sarcomas are characterized by significant heterogeneity, diverse histological subtypes, and variable clinical behavior. Dynamic epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) processes in solid tumors contribute to disease aggressiveness. Characterization of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in sarcomas remains challenging due to the lack of well-defined, cell-specific markers and limited molecular characterization. Compared with adenocarcinomas, studies on sarcoma-derived CTCs are relatively limited. Therefore, isolation and characterization of CTCs, including assessment of protein expression and cellular transitions using affinity ligands such as anti-epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) antibodies, may improve clinical outcomes in sarcoma patients. The role of CTCs as minimal cellular residual disease (MCRD) is particularly relevant post-treatment, including after curative-intent surgery. Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of CTCs and CTC clusters as indicators of minimal cellular residual disease (MCRD), along with PD-L1 expression, in sarcoma patients. Methods: In this retrospective study, peripheral blood samples from 97 sarcoma patients (55.95% male and 44.05% female) were analyzed for the presence of CTCs, PD-L1 expression, and CTC clusters. CTCs were isolated using the OncoDiscover platform approved by CDSCO from 1.5 mL of blood. The platform utilizes a multifunctional magneto-nanosystem mediated by anti-EpCAM antibodies. CTCs were identified as EpCAM⁺, CK18⁺, DAPI⁺, and CD45⁻ cells. PD-L1 expression on CTCs was quantified based on linear fluorescence intensity gradients using image acquisition on an automated Zeiss microscope. Results: Among the 97 patients, 86.59% had baseline CTC assessments, while 13.40% had follow-up samples. At baseline analysis, 68.04% (n = 66) of patients demonstrated ≥1 CTC per 1.5 mL of blood. The CTC count ranged from 1 to 6 cells, with a mean value of 1.17. Additionally, 61.44% (n = 51) of patients with detectable CTCs exhibited PD-L1 expression, with a mean value of 0.92. The highest proportion of CTCs (31.11%, n = 28) and CTC clusters (6.14%, n = 7) was observed in the 31–40-year age group. Conclusions: The presence of CTCs with CTC clusters and PD-L1 expression suggests minimal cellular residual disease (MCRD) and may indicate aggressive disease behavior in sarcoma patients. Following treatment, the detection of such CTCs may be associated with metastasis progression. Therefore, longitudinal monitoring of these patients is recommended to support improved clinical 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

Magnetic nanogels enable optimized capture of circulating tumor cells from blood. Publications 11 February 2018 Manuscript: Optimizing Circulating Tumor Cells’ Capture Efficiency of Magnetic Nanogels by Transferrin Decoration Magnetic nanogels with optimized PEG–transferrin linkers achieve over 80% efficiency in selectively capturing circulating tumor cells from blood. Magnetic nanogels (MNGs) are designed with the necessary features to function as highly efficient trapping materials for the challenging task of selectively capturing circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from the bloodstream. A key factor in this process is the ability to discriminate CTCs from hematological cells, which can be optimized by finely tuning the polymers used to link the targeting moiety to the MNGs. Here, we describe the relationship between the capturing efficiency of CTCs with overexpressed transferrin receptors and the different strategies used in polymer linkers to decorate these MNGs with transferrin (Tf). Heterobifunctional polyethylene glycol (PEG) linkers with varying molecular weights were coupled to transferrin in different ratios. Optimal results, with over 80% CTC capture efficiency, were obtained when three PEG linkers with a length of eight ethylene glycol (EG) units were used. These findings highlight the crucial role of linker design in developing efficient CTC-sorting systems. 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