Analysis of circulating tumor cells, fragments, and debris

US8329422B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Veridex LLC · US

Inventors

• Galla Chandra Rao · Princeton, US
• Christopher Larson · San Diego, US
• Madeline Repollet · Fort Washington, US
• Herman Rutner · Hackensack, US
• Leon W. M. M. Terstappen · Huntingdon, US
• Shawn Mark O'Hara · Richboro, US
• Steven S. Gross · New York, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 2, 2010
• Grant date: Dec 11, 2012
• Expiry date: Nov 2, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T436/25375
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The methods and reagents described in this invention are used to analyze circulating tumor cells, clusters, fragments, and debris. Analysis is performed with a number of platforms, including flow cytometry and the CELLSPOTTER® fluorescent microscopy imaging system. Analyzing damaged cells has shown to be important. However, there are two sources of damage: in vivo and in vitro. Damage in vivo occurs by apoptosis, necrosis, or immune response. Damage in vitro occurs during sample acquisition, handling, transport, processing, or analysis. It is therefore desirable to confine, reduce, eliminate, or at least qualify in vitro damage to prevent it from interfering in analysis. Described herein are methods to diagnose, monitor, and screen disease based on circulating rare cells, including malignancy as determined by CTC, clusters, fragments, and debris. Also provided are kits for assaying biological specimens using these methods.