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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

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

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 track residual disease and therapy response in breast cancer patients. Publications 6 June 2023 ASCO 2023: Effect of circulating tumor cells distribution in treatment naive and treated patients with advance stage breast cancer on disease burden. A study of 417 breast cancer patients shows tracking circulating tumor cells (CTCs) effectively monitors therapy response and recurrence risk. Background Breast malignancies are a leading cause of cancer-related mortalities and show an ascending incidence rate. Despite advancements in our understanding of the disease, its clinical outcome is often dismal. This largely remains owing to the characteristic wide window of relapse, spanning months to decades after primary treatment. Therefore, continuous monitoring of the disease is an offered choice to detect metastatic progression and recurrence. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have emerged as a powerful prognostic tool to predict the disease outcome in many epithelial cancers. CTCs are a real-time surrogate biomarker accounting for minimal residual disease (MRD) which is often missed in CT PET scanning. This leads to a progression of metastasis when the patient is often considered as 'clinically disease free'. Here, we analyzed the presence of CTCs in treatment-naive and chemo-recipient breast cancer patients. Methods In this retrospective study on 417 breast cancer patients, CTCs were isolated from 1.5 ml of blood using the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) approved OncoDiscover CTC test. This platform contains affinity-based magnetic nanoparticles to mediate EpCAM-based CTC isolation. CTCs were detected as CK18+, DAPI+ and CD45- cells based on an automated digital imaging platform. Results 42.6% (n=178) of patients were clinically at a progressive stage (stage II and III) and treatment-naive. On the other hand, 47.4% of patients received treatment including surgery and chemotherapy. CTCs were not observed in 5.6% (n=10) of the treatment-naive population, while 32% (n=75) of patients who received therapy did not show CTCs. The mean CTC number in treatment-naive patients was 15, while the mean CTC count in patients receiving therapy was drastically reduced to 2. This implied that therapy effectively countered the tumor progression and reduced the shedding of tumor cells in circulation. The distribution of CTC in treatment-naive patients exhibited a bimodal trend centered at values of 10 and 50, suggesting two distinct populations of patients with respect to CTC count. CTC count did not show any correlation with the age in both population groups. Surprisingly, CTC count in younger patients (20-50 years) was 50% higher compared to the older population (50-75 years). Conclusions The presence of CTCs in treatment-naive, progressive breast cancer patients indicated biologically aggravated disease. Although therapeutic intervention drastically reduced the CTC burden, their presence in a large population was suggestive of an MRD and the likelihood of recurrence after discontinuation of therapy. A distinct pattern of CTC occurrences in Tx naive and Tx recipient patients suggested that CTCs can be an important clinical indicator to monitor the therapy response, progression, and residual disease. Know more Stay One Step Ahead of Cancer. Get the latest news and innovations from Actorius delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for regular updates Email* Yes, subscribe me for regular updates. * Subscribe

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

Actorius featured on BBC News Click Kannada with expert and patient insights. Press Release 22 March 2019 Actorius Innovations Featured on BBC News Click Kannada Actorius Innovations and Research was showcased on BBC News Click (Kannada edition), featuring an interview with Dr. Jayant Khandare and testimonials from leading oncologists including Dr. Kumar Prabhash and Dr. Pankaj Chaturvedi, along with patient experiences. In this special feature on BBC News Click Kannada, Actorius Innovations and Research highlights its advancements in cancer diagnostics and liquid biopsy technology. Dr. Jayant Khandare shares insights into the science and vision behind the innovation, while renowned experts Dr. Kumar Prabhash and Dr. Pankaj Chaturvedi provide clinical perspectives on its impact. The segment also includes powerful patient testimonials, underscoring the real-world significance of early and minimally invasive cancer detection. Watch the 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

Self-propelled CNT microrockets enable rapid capture and isolation of CTCs. Publications 13 April 2015 Manuscript: Self-propelled Carbon Nanotube Based Microrockets for Rapid Capture and Isolation of Circulating Tumor Cells Self-propelled CNT microrockets rapidly capture and magnetically isolate circulating tumor cells, enabling faster liquid biopsy and early cancer detection. We demonstrated a novel carbon nanotube (CNT)-based microrocket that propels efficiently through the thrust generated by oxygen (O₂) bubbles. These self-propelled microrockets exhibit ultrafast propulsion in aqueous solutions as well as in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium (DMEM). The microrocket generated a driving force of over 231 and 300 pN in DMEM containing 4% hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). The speed and distance traveled by the microrocket can be controlled by adjusting the concentration of H₂O₂. The designed multifunctional microrocket has the ability to (i) rapidly target (~5 minutes) and efficiently capture (~85%) transferrin receptor–positive (TfR⁺) cancer cells from an artificial CTC-like suspension, (ii) magnetically isolate the captured cells from peripheral blood cells, and (iii) enable subsequent high-resolution imaging. We envision that such self-powered micromotors could provide a novel and effective approach for the rapid and efficient extraction of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from biological fluids, supporting early cancer diagnosis and detection of recurrence. 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

OncoDiscover: affordable, rapid CTC platform for HNC patients in developing nations. Publications 4 June 2019 ASCO 2019: Correlation of CTCs with disease progression in Indian oral cancer patients "OncoDiscover" is a fast, highly sensitive, and affordable (~$120) CTC nanosystem validated in 100 HNC patients to meet global medical needs. Background Liquid biopsy technologies are often unaffordable and unavailable in developing countries, despite these regions having the highest cancer burden and mortality rates. Current circulating tumor cell (CTC) technologies face significant clinical concerns, including non-specificity, low efficiency, high blood volume requirements, long turnaround times, and exorbitant costs (~$900–$1,400). We report an extremely low-cost, innovative nanosystem for the rapid enumeration of CTCs with higher specificity and efficiency. Methods We designed a nanosystem mediated by the conjugation of anti-EpCAM through a multi-reactive glutathione spacer, a carbon allotrope, and an amine-terminated dendrimer. The platform was evaluated for enhanced aqueous dispersibility and increased interaction with CTCs for rapid isolation and enumeration in 100 head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. These patients had various primary tumor sub-sites, including the oral cavity, larynx, hypopharynx, oropharynx, nasopharynx, salivary gland, and thyroid. The captured cells were immunostained, and the optimal fluorescence acquisition intensity was validated by accounting for CTCs with CK18 protein expression. Our method achieved the complete elimination of false-positive normal cell (NC) counts. The analysis was performed using only 1.5 ml of collected blood samples. Results The CTC distribution in the cohort study ranged from 1 to 85 cells per 1.5 ml of blood. In more than 80% of patients' CTCs, the quantitative estimation of anti-CK18 protein overexpression indicated an intensity approximately 10-fold higher than that of normal cells. Compared to treatment-naive, recurrent, and disease-free patients, the spread of CTC numbers across the clinical range appeared to be tight (close to the mean value). The CTC enumeration sensitivity linearity was ~99.2%, and the complete enumeration process time was under 3 hours per 1.5 ml of blood. Consequently, an efficient, rapid, and affordable CTC platform was designed and clinically validated. Conclusions The "OncoDiscover" liquid biopsy technology for CTC enumeration is poised to revolutionize the field due to its high sensitivity and affordability (~$120). It addresses a major unmet medical need in the developing world. Know more Stay One Step Ahead of Cancer. Get the latest news and innovations from Actorius delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for regular updates Email* Yes, subscribe me for regular updates. * Subscribe

Combined ctDNA and PD-L1 CTC testing improves lung cancer monitoring and response. Publications 3 June 2025 Quadrant of co-occurrence of circulating tumor DNA and PD-L1 expression on circulating tumor cells in monitoring disease aggressiveness and metastasis in lung cancer. Combined ctDNA and PD-L1–positive CTC analysis improves monitoring of metastasis, minimal residual disease, and treatment response in lung cancer. Background Liquid biopsies analyzing circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) enable minimally invasive monitoring and testing of lung cancer across different stages. Approximately 90% of patients succumb due to metastasis. However, identifying patients with early metastatic signatures remains extremely challenging. In addition, monitoring minimal residual disease (MRD) and identifying patients at risk of recurrence is highly important. While the prognostic role of CTCs in predicting survival has been established in several cancers, the combined role of CTCs and ctDNA in monitoring disease aggressiveness, treatment response, and therapeutic decision-making has not been extensively explored. In this study, we investigated the combined roles of ctDNA and CTCs in monitoring disease aggressiveness and metastasis in lung cancer patients. Methods A cohort of 265 late-stage lung cancer patients was retrospectively analyzed for the co-occurrence of the dual biomarkers ctDNA and CTCs. The results were correlated in a quadrant-based model to assess clinical disease states derived from PET scans and histopathological examination (HPE) findings. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was performed using the OncoMonitor dual biomarker assay, which includes CTC enumeration with PD-L1 expression analysis. CTC counts were determined using the OncoDiscover Liquid Biopsy Test, approved by CDSCO-India, from 1.5 mL of blood. Results CTC distribution ranged from 1 to 8 cells, with a mean value of 1.22. Among the patients, 75.47% (n = 200) were CTC-positive, and among these, 91.50% (n = 183) exhibited PD-L1 expression on their CTCs, with a mean PD-L1–positive CTC value of 0.99. Both biomarkers were positive (ctDNA⁺/CTC⁺) in 135 patients (50.94%). Only 19 patients (7.17%) were negative for both biomarkers (ctDNA⁻/CTC⁻). Additionally, 43 patients (16.23%) were ctDNA⁺/CTC⁻, while 68 patients (25.66%) were ctDNA⁻/CTC⁺. The ctDNA⁺/CTC⁻ cohort exhibited the highest metastatic rate at 62.8%, followed by the ctDNA⁺/CTC⁺ group at 57.0%. The ctDNA-positive cohort showed the highest proportion of progressive disease (20.2% and 18.6% in CTC⁺ and CTC⁻ subgroups, respectively). Mutations in EGFR, TP53, and KRAS were observed in 62.64% (166/265) of patients. Stable disease was observed in 29.4% of patients when both biomarkers were absent (ctDNA⁻/CTC⁻). Conclusions Overall, the ctDNA-positive cohort demonstrated higher rates of MRD, disease progression, and metastasis, with no cases of stable disease. The combined quadrant analysis of CTC-PD-L1 cells and ctDNA provides a non-invasive approach for monitoring disease progression, treatment response, complete remission, and early metastatic detection in lung cancer patients. 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 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

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

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