Genetic analysis of circulating tumor cells using a microfilter device

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21H02997
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 55020:Digestive surgery-related
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: Matsusaka Satoshi 筑波大学, 医学医療系, 客員研究員 (00372665)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 血中循環がん細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Genetic analysis of circulating tumor cells are associated with cancer metastasis and prognosis but their scarcity in whole blood prevents their use as a diagnostic tool. The purpose of the present study was to establish a novel approach to capture and cultivate CTCs using a microfilter device. A non-invasive, size-based filtering modality was developed in the present study, which is able to effectively isolate and culture CTCs and CTC clusters from clinical patients with cancer to characterize these peripheral cells for therapy response predictions. Cultured CTCs may be used for patient-specific drug susceptibility testing and genomic profiling of cancer.

Free Research Field

腫瘍学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

従来のCTC分離法は大型の装置や高価なフィルターを必要とするものが多いが、本法では13mmの合金フィルターとそのハウシング、小型ポンプを主としてクリーンベンチ内で短時間に分離可能である。また血液の前処理が不要なことから、もともと少ないCTCのロスも軽減できる。繰り返し行える採血で速やかに、また簡便にCTCを分離することで経過毎に遺伝子の情報を把握できるため、薬剤の効果・選択に有用と思われる。以上のように本法は特殊な技術・装置を必要とせず、安価で迅速にCTCを分離できる方法である。