Antibody-coated cotton substrate for CTC enumeration and chemotherapy response. Publications 18 February 2022 Manuscript: Antibody mediated cotton-archetypal substrate for enumeration of circulating tumor cells and chemotherapy outcome in 3D tumors Cotton microfluidic substrate enables efficient CTC isolation, 3D tumor growth, and drug response testing for improved cancer diagnostics and therapy research. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are distinct cancer biomarkers established in clinical settings for early cancer detection, metastasis progression, and minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring. Despite numerous advances, comprehensive molecular characterization of CTCs remains extremely challenging due to their rarity and heterogeneity. Here, we present a novel cotton microfluidic substrate (CMS) as an innovative biomedical matrix that efficiently isolates CTCs while facilitating in vitro CTC expansion, enabling further downstream analysis of these rare cells. CMS enabled both static and dynamic isolation of cells from the MCF-7 cancer cell line, as well as from the blood of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients. The cell capture efficiencies were further compared with the clinically regulated OncoDiscover® Liquid Biopsy Test. Furthermore, CMS served as a matrix on which the captured cancer cells were grown into 3D tumor models to study anti-cancer drug efficacy and multi-drug resistance (MDR) mechanisms. The design of the CMS employed two different surface chemistries—flattened and nanostructured surfaces—each conjugated with anti-EpCAM antibodies to evaluate CTC capture efficiency and 3D tumor growth dynamics. The nanostructured surface was highly efficient in capturing CTCs and promoted 3D tumor spheroid formation, showing a five-fold increase in size from day 3 to day 10 of culture. Moreover, when treated with the anti-cancer drug cisplatin, an almost half reduction in tumor size was achieved within 24 hours, followed by a cytostatic threshold and the eventual acquisition of drug resistance within three days. Conclusively, the CMS matrix exhibits potential for the further development of “tissue-on-chip” and “point-of-care” medical devices in cancer diagnostics, as well as for evaluating chemotherapeutic efficacy in drug discovery and development. 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

Combined ctDNA and CTC analysis improves MRD detection and cancer progression monitoring. Publications 3 June 2024 ASCO 2024: Association of complementing ctDNA and CTCs load on stable and progressive disease in treated patients. Complementary ctDNA and CTC biomarkers reveal minimal residual disease and predict cancer progression after curative-intent treatment. Background: Post curative-intent surgery and therapy, the presence of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) load represents minimal residual disease (MRD). Conversely, the presence of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in stage I–II cancer or even in disease-free survival (DFS) patients indicates occult cellular residual disease (CRD) with undetectable micrometastasis. These complementary biomarkers in patients undergoing treatment act as indicators of non-responsiveness, suggesting the need for treatment modifications. Methods: Retrospectively, we monitored a cohort of 46 cancer patients for MRD using ctDNA and CTCs who were treated or undergoing treatment (e.g., lung, breast, colon, and head and neck cancer; n = 14, 7, 6, and 4, respectively). The OncoMonitor test detected single nucleotide variations (SNVs), small insertions and deletions (INDELs), copy number variations (CNVs), and translocations (fusions). Libraries were prepared using a hybridization-capture method covering 1000 targets with a mean sequencing depth of 5000× on the Illumina NextSeq 2000 in paired-end mode (150 × 2). Variant calling was performed using a proprietary bioinformatics pipeline, iCare. CTCs were isolated using the OncoDiscover platform, which possesses an anti-EpCAM antibody-based immunomagnetic system per 1.5 mL of blood. CTCs were confirmed using CK18+, PD-L1, and CD45 markers with a motorized fluorescence microscope. Results: From ctDNA analysis, 47.82% (n = 22) of patients were identified with at least one actionable genomic finding. Among these, 13.04% (n = 6) of patients showed EGFR driver mutations. Additionally, 19.56% (n = 9) of patients were identified with either EGFR driver, KRAS, or PI3K passenger mutations, while 4.34% (n = 2) were identified with ALK–EML4 fusion. The average ctDNA load obtained in patients with progressive disease (n = 26) was 8.2 molecules per 1 mL of plasma. At least one CTC was detected in 61.53% (n = 16) of progressive disease patients, with the highest count of four CTCs identified in 7.69% (n = 2) of patients. Only 30% (n = 6) of patients with stable disease were identified with at least one genomic finding from a total of 20 patients upon ctDNA analysis, with an average ctDNA load of 2.2 molecules per 1 mL of plasma. Patients with clinically progressive disease showed ctDNA load approximately fourfold higher than those with stable disease during treatment. No patients with stable disease were identified with four CTCs, as opposed to 7.69% in the progressive disease cohort during treatment. Conclusions: We observed that ctDNA and CTCs complement MRD status even after curative-intent surgery and therapy, with the potential to identify patients likely to experience disease progression. Our findings strongly indicate a positive correlation between ctDNA load, the number of detected CTCs, and disease progression based on radiological findings. These biomarkers can support practical clinical decision-making. Further studies are necessary to validate these findings and improve follow-up strategies for better 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

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

Actorius ISLB 2025 | 1-3 November 2025 Events 3 November 2025 ISLB 2025 | 1-3 November 2025 Actorius ISLB 2025 | 1-3 November 2025 Some glimpses from ISLB 2025 Know more Stay One Step Ahead of Cancer. Get the latest news and innovations from Actorius delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for regular updates Email* Yes, subscribe me for regular updates. * Subscribe

Actorius Innovations at ASCO Annual Meeting 2026 Publications 2 June 2026 ASCO 2026: Continual depletion of circulating tumor cells using an automated device enriched with affinity glass bead substrates in breast and CRC patient's whole blood. Automated OncoMetastat device captures and depletes CTCs in colorectal and breast cancer, aiding detection of minimal residual disease and metastasis risk. Abstract Background Despite no radiological or pathological evidence of disease, about 25–50% of stage II–III colorectal cancer (CRC) and early-stage breast cancer (BC) patients are known to experience recurrence. The presence of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) with epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) traits represents aggressive systemic disease. Through autonomous oncogenic activation, epithelial cells acquire invasive properties that enable metastasis. A high EMT score combined with immune checkpoint expression, such as PD-L1, may allow tumor cells to evade immune surveillance. Following curative-intent surgery and therapy, CTCs represent minimal cellular residual disease (MCRD) and serve as strong predictors of recurrence. In this study, we present an automated extracorporeal device designed to capture, analyze, and deplete CTCs for further clinical evaluation. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 66 patients, including stage II–III CRC patients (n = 41) and breast cancer patients (n = 25). Whole blood samples were processed to deplete CTCs using the OncoMetastat device. Among the CRC patients, 12 were female and 29 were male. The average age of BC and CRC patients was 53.6 and 58 years, respectively. The device consists of a spiral channel (127 × 85 × 5 mm; spiral span: 66 mm; width: 4 mm) 3D-printed using biocompatible resin and filled with anti-EpCAM antibody–conjugated glass beads (GB). The system includes a controller and a peristaltic pump that circulates blood in and out of the spiral channels. Vibrational energy induces motion in the glass beads to enhance cell capture. Hemolysis, protein binding, leukocyte adsorption, and CTC capture efficiency were evaluated. CTC capture efficiency was compared with the CDSCO-approved OncoDiscover CTC technology in India. Blood samples were pumped into the device and incubated with affinity-enriched glass beads for 30 minutes under constant vibration (200 Hz) to enhance CTC capture and prevent blood stagnation. CTCs were confirmed using CK18⁺, DAPI⁺, and CD45⁻ markers and analyzed using an automated fluorescence microscope. Results A total of 48 CTCs were detected in 58% (38/66) of patients. CTC positivity was slightly higher in breast cancer patients (60.0%) compared with CRC patients (56.1%). The mean CTC distribution was 0.73 overall, with CRC and BC both showing mean values of 0.73 and 0.72, respectively. The negative predictive value (NPV) was determined to be 0.86 (86%). Automated scanning demonstrated 100% efficiency in detecting CTCs. Low leukocyte adhesion was observed with anti-EpCAM–coated glass beads. White blood cell (WBC) counts varied by cancer type, with mean counts of 4.9 × 10⁶/mL for breast cancer and 3.9 × 10⁶/mL for colorectal cancer, both lower than healthy controls (6.9 × 10⁶/mL). Clinically insignificant hemolysis (<1%) and minimal protein binding (~1.5%) were observed in the spiral channel. Glass beads subjected to vibrational energy demonstrated enhanced CTC sequestration, achieving over 90% cell capture efficiency compared with vibration-free conditions. Conclusions This study demonstrates efficient CTC depletion in 66 CRC and breast cancer patients using an automated extracorporeal device. Early-stage CRC and BC patients with detectable CTCs may have a higher risk of developing distant metastasis. Therefore, following complete remission, the use of an extracorporeal device to deplete CTCs could potentially reduce the risk of metastatic progression. 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

Magneto-polymeric nanosystems for rapid CTC targeting, detection & imaging. Patents 22 April 2021 Multifunctional magneto-polymeric nanosystems for rapid targeting, isolation, detection and simultaneous imaging of circulating tumor cells A multifunctional magneto-polymeric nanosystem for rapid targeting, isolation, detection, and imaging of circulating tumor cells to support cancer diagnostics and monitoring. Related patent documents CA2976614 TH175113 WO/2016/132265 EP3259598 ES2828025 PL3259598 US20230408525 Granted Canadian, European and Indian Patent Actorius Innovations and Research Pvt. Ltd. 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

CaP-crowned CNT nanocapsules enable pH-triggered intracellular anticancer drug delivery. Publications 17 April 2015 Manuscript:Calcium phosphate nanocapsule crowned multiwalled carbon nanotubes for pH triggered intracellular anticancer drug release Calcium phosphate–capped carbon nanotubes enable pH-triggered intracellular release of doxorubicin, preventing premature drug leakage and improving targeted cancer therapy. We report calcium phosphate (CaP) nanocapsule–crowned multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNT–GSH–G4–CaP) as a novel platform for the intracellular delivery of an anticancer drug. As a proof of concept, the CNT–GSH–G4–CaP system demonstrates the release of the anticancer drug doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) within intracellular lysosomes from the interior cavity of the CNT through pH-triggered CaP dissolution. Importantly, we found that CNTs capped with a CaP nanolid can efficiently prevent premature drug release at physiological pH, while promoting DOX release in more acidic environments, such as those found in subcellular compartments like lysosomes (pH ≈ 5.0). This “zero premature release” characteristic is of significant clinical importance for delivering cytotoxic drugs, as it helps reduce systemic toxicity and enhances the effectiveness of anticancer treatment. We envision that this pH-triggered CaP-crowned CNT nanosystem could lead to a new generation of self-regulated platforms for the intracellular delivery of a wide range of anticancer drugs. 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

Chemo-specific designs for the enumeration of CTCs: advances in liquid biopsy Publications 18 December 2020 Manuscript: Chemo-specific designs for the enumeration of circulating tumor cells: advances in liquid biopsy Review on chemo-specific nano/micro substrates for efficient CTC isolation, enabling liquid biopsy, metastasis detection, and real-time cancer monitoring. Advanced materials and chemo-specific designs at the nano- and micrometer scale have ensured revolutionary progress in next-generation clinically relevant technologies. For example, isolating a rare population of cells, such as circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from blood among billions of other blood cells, is one of the most complex scientific challenges in cancer diagnostics. Achieving this level of exceptional specificity for extracellular biomarker interactions requires chemical tunability through the use of advanced materials and multistep reactions in both solution and insoluble states. This review delineates the chemo-specific substrates, chemical methods, and structure–activity relationships (SARs) of chemical platforms used for the isolation and enumeration of CTCs, thereby advancing the relevance of liquid biopsy in cancer diagnostics and disease management. We highlight the synthesis of cell-specific, tumor biomarker-based chemo-specific substrates utilizing functionalized linkers through chemistry-based conjugation strategies. The capacity of these nano- and micro-scale substrates to enhance interaction specificity and efficiency with targeted tumor cells is discussed in detail. Furthermore, this review emphasizes the importance of CTC capture and downstream processes involving genotypic and phenotypic CTC analysis in real time. These approaches enable early detection of metastasis progression, evaluation of chemotherapy treatment response, and monitoring of progression-free survival (PFS), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) in cancer patients. Royal Society of chemistry. 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

HER2 analysis on CTCs enables real-time monitoring in metastatic breast cancer. Publications 10 April 2024 AACR 2024: Evaluation of HER-2 expression on circulating tumor cells as a real time biomarker in advanced breast cancer HER2 analysis on circulating tumor cells using the OncoDiscover® platform enables real-time, non-invasive profiling for improved metastatic breast cancer treatment decisions. Introduction: Breast cancer accounts for 12.5% of all new annual cancer cases worldwide. Cases classified as HER2-positive tend to proliferate, metastasize, and often lead to relapse. HER2 is one of the most valid tumor markers and is widely used as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Thus, analyzing the expression of HER2 on circulating tumor cells (CTCs) can offer a real-time dynamic biomarker for guiding treatment options between endocrine therapy and chemotherapy in advanced breast cancer. Functional assays on CTCs with the HER2 biomarker offer evolving diagnostic opportunities, especially when tissue samples are not accessible or are inadequate. Methods: Retrospectively, blood samples from 179 breast cancer patients were analyzed for the presence of CTCs using the OncoDiscover® platform approved by the Drug Controller General of India (CDSCO). The platform consists of an immunomagnetic multi-component system mediated by anti-EpCAM antibodies. The isolated cells were immunostained using the nuclear dye DAPI along with CK18, CD45, and HER2 antibodies. CTCs were identified by the presence of HER2-positive, CK18-positive, DAPI-positive, and CD45-negative staining. Validation of HER2 expression on CTCs was analyzed based on the linear intensity gradients of fluorescence signals. CTCs were termed HER2-negative when weak or no detectable fluorescence signal was observed and HER2-positive when high fluorescence signals were detected. Results: Among the cohort of 179 patient samples, 63.68% of samples showed the presence of CTCs, with counts ranging from 1–7 CTCs. Among these, 47.84% of the detected CTCs showed HER2 expression. The mean fluorescence intensity value for HER2 expression in CTCs was found to be 3.23. The observed fluorescence intensity further emphasizes the robustness of CTCs as a viable source for molecular characterization. Conclusion: Integration of HER2 analysis on CTCs into the clinical assessment of metastatic breast cancer may offer a non-invasive, real-time strategy for tumor profiling and may help pave the way for more precise and tailored therapeutic interventions. 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

Assessment of circulating tumor cells and clusters expressing PD-L1 in urological cancers Publications 2 June 2026 ASCO 26: Assessment of circulating tumor cells and clusters expressing PD-L1 in urological cancers High prevalence of PD-L1–positive circulating tumor cells in urological cancers, especially prostate cancer, indicating minimal residual disease and recurrence risk. Abstract Background Urological cancers, including prostate, bladder, kidney, testicular, and penile cancers, often fail to show symptoms or show only nonspecific symptoms at early stages. This leads to delayed diagnosis, treatment decisions, and outcomes. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) predict the outcome in metastatic prostate cancer (PC). Furthermore, in bladder cancer, CTC positivity is linked to muscle invasion, higher recurrence risk, and worse clinical outcomes. CTC PD-L1 expression could evade immune elimination. In spite of complete remission, a higher percentage of patients are known to recur in urothelial cancers. CTCs acting as minimal cellular residual disease (MCRD) are highly implicated, knowing their capacity to be dormant systemically with extravasation and invasion to distant organs. We analyzed the presence of CTCs with PD-L1 over-expression in urological cancers at baseline and follow-ups. Methods Retrospectively, a total of 359 urological cancer patients were evaluated for CTC positivity, including 307 at baseline and 52 follow-up samples. The cancer type distribution was prostate cancer (n = 139), bladder (n = 188), kidney (n = 10), testes (n = 2), penis (n = 8), urothelial (n = 12), etc. Ninety-five percent of the patients were male (n = 293) and 5% were female (n = 14), with most patients aged 61 to 80 years. CTCs expressing PD-L1, positive CTCs, and CTC clusters were analyzed using OncoDiscover® PD-L1 markers and a Zeiss fluorescence automated microscope. Demographics, cancer mean distribution, and CTC and cluster frequency were analyzed. Results Of the 359 patients, CTCs were detected in 68.2% (245/359) of patients, while PD-L1 over-expression on CTCs was present in 49.9% (179/359) of patients. However, CTC clusters were uncommon and occurred in 7.2% (26/359) of patients. Across cancer types (total CTCs = 436), prostate cancer accounted for higher CTCs with a mean CTC distribution of 2.18, while bladder was 0.74, urothelial 0.34, testes 0.18, kidney 0.74, and penis 0.38, respectively. CTC PD-L1 was highest in prostate cancer (46.1%) compared to other cancers, and CTC cluster prevalence was 1.8% in prostate cancer, urothelial (0.9%), and bladder (0.2%) cancers. In CTC-positive cases, 56.3% of patients had only one CTC, 27.8% showed two CTCs, and 8.2% had three. The mean across all patients was 0.6 for CTCs, 0.3 for CTC-PD-L1 positive, and 0.1 for clusters. Conclusions CTCs with PD-L1-positive overexpression were observed across urological cancers, being particularly higher in prostate cancer compared to bladder, kidney, and penis cancers. Many patients are known to recur in spite of complete remission, possibly due to the presence of aggressive CTCs in circulation that could evade the immune system. More studies assessing the presence of CTCs with PD-L1 expression are justified in urological cancers for minimal cellular residual disease and as prognostication. 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

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

TEDx Talk — by Aravindan Vasudevan – CEO, Actorius Innovations and Research Expert Insights 28 February 2023 TEDx Talk — Capturing cancer cells-Uncovering secrets for treatments by Aravindan Vasudevan – CEO, Actorius Innovations Aravindan discusses innovative cancer research in early detection, precision medicine, tumor modeling, and liquid biopsy for advanced cancer insights. Describing cancer cell as the ‘Perfect Villain’ and focusing on how we could help eradicate its conception altogether, Aravindan talks about how they have successfully been able to research and develop various ways to detect early, decode cancer diversity with precision medicine, mimic the tumor microenvironment and liquid biopsy that helps find markers of cancer that has travelled through the bloodstream. Aravindan Vasudevan is the co-founder of Actorius Innovations and Research. At Actorius, Aravindan was part of the team which developed the OncoDiscover – Circulating Tumor Cell Technology, India’s first indigenously developed DCGi approved IVD technology. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. TEDx Talk Link: https://www.ted.com/talks/aravindan_vasudevan_capt Watch video Stay One Step Ahead of Cancer. Get the latest news and innovations from Actorius delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for regular updates Email* Yes, subscribe me for regular updates. * Subscribe