Method of enriching rare cells

US5962237A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine · US

Inventors

• Paul O. P. Ts'o · Timonium, US
• Zheng Wang · 安丰镇, CN
• Stephen Lesko · Baltimore, US
• William G. Nelson · Baltimore, US
• Alan W. Partin · Baltimore, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 2, 1997
• Grant date: Oct 5, 1999
• Expiry date: Apr 2, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N33/57488
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method for enriching cancer cells such as prostate cancer cells in a bodily fluid sample is disclosed comprising (a) obtaining the sample comprising cancer cells and non-rare cells; (b) subjecting the sample to multiple density gradient separation comprising a first density gradient and a second density gradient, wherein the second density gradient is greater than the first density gradient, and producing a first fluid comprising an increased concentration of cancer cells of a first density, and a second fluid comprising an increased concentration of cancer cells of a second density, wherein the second density is greater than the first density; wherein subjecting the sample to multiple density gradient separation includes producing a plasma layer, a first interface layer, a first gradient layer, a second interface layer, a second gradient layer, and a cell pellet; wherein producing the first fluid includes combining the first interface layer and the first gradient layer and forming a first suspension; and wherein producing the second fluid includes combining the second interface layer and the second gradient layer and forming a second suspension; (c) subjecting said second fluid …