title: Portable filter-based microdevice for detection and characterization of circulating tumor cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Sensitive detection and characterization of circulating tumor cells (CTC) could revolutionize the approach to patients with early-stage and metastatic cancer. The current methodologies have significant limitations, including limited capture efficiency and ability to characterize captured cells. Here, we report the development of a novel parylene membrane filter-based portable microdevice for size-based isolation with high recovery rate and direct on-chip characterization of captured CTC from human peripheral blood.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated the sensitivity and efficiency of CTC capture in a model system using blood samples from healthy donors spiked with tumor cell lines. Fifty-nine model system samples were tested to determine the recovery rate of the microdevice. Moreover, 10 model system samples and 57 blood samples from cancer patients were subjected to both membrane microfilter device and CellSearch platform enumeration for direct comparison.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using the model system, the microdevice achieved >90% recovery with probability of 95% recovering at least one cell when five are seeded in 7.5 mL of blood. CTCs were identified in 51 of 57 patients using the microdevice, compared with only 26 patients with the CellSearch method. When CTCs were detected by both methods, greater numbers were recovered by the microfilter device in all but five patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This filter-based microdevice is both a capture and analysis platform, capable of multiplexed imaging and genetic analysis. The microdevice presented here has the potential to enable routine CTC analysis in the clinical setting for the effective management of cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA.
authors.forename: Henry K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Siyang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Marija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Balic
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Groshen
authors.forename: Howard I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Scher
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fleisher
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Stadler
authors.forename: Ram H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Datar
authors.forename: Yu-Chong
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Cote
mesh_terms: D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D006440:Hemofiltration / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000473:pathology*; D011108:Polymers; D014992:Xylenes
chemical_list: D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011108:Polymers; D014992:Xylenes; C011055:parylene; C013830:baysilon