Tumor cell detection method using complement-mediated cytolytic reaction and imaging sensor system.
A novel tumor-detection system consisting of complement-mediated cytolytic reaction and an image processing system was developed for the simple and rapid determination of tumor cells. The present system consists of a CCD image sensor, image memory board, personal computer, and microscope. When monoclonal antibody 3C4, which is specific to the guinea pig hepatoma L-10, was added to cell suspension, only L-10 cytolysis occurred. Cytolysis caused a decrease in brightness of the cells observed by phase-contrast microscopy. The phase contrast image of the cells before cytolysis was converted to a digitalized signal and stored in computer memory. After cytolysis, a brightness threshold above that of lysed cells was subtracted from the digitalized signal and compared to the signal stored before reaction. L-10 cells in mixed cell suspension were determined specifically by the system. Measurement time was only 2 sec and overall time, including reaction time, was approximately 30 min. Since this method does not require a cell washing process, automation of the whole system is possible.
Suzuki
M
M
Research Laboratory of Resources Utilization, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Japan.
Watanabe
N
N
Tamiya
E
E
Kataoka
T
T
Tokunaga
T
T
Karube
I
I
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D003114:Colony-Forming Units Assay / Q000379:methods*; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D003201:Computers; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007942:Leukemia, Experimental; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental; D014410:Tumor Stem Cell Assay / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
D003165:Complement System Proteins