Binary-blend fibber-based capture assay of circulating tumor cells for clinical diagnosis of colorectal cancer

Abstract

BackgroundIn addition to conventional approaches, detecting and characterizing CTCs in patient blood allows for early diagnosis of cancer metastasis.MethodsWe blended poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) into nylon-6 through electrospinning to generate a fibrous matbased circulating tumour cells (CTCs) assay. The contents of nylon-6 and PEO in the electrospun blend fibrous mats (EBFMs) were optimized to facilitate high cell-substrate affinity and low leukocyte adsorption.ResultsCompared with the IsoFlux System, a commercial instrument for CTC detection, the CTC assay of EBFMs exhibited lower false positive readings and high sensitivity and selectivity with preclinical specimens. Furthermore, we examined the clinical diagnosis accuracy of colorectal cancer, using the CTC assay and compared the results with those identified through pathological analyses of biopsies from colonoscopies. Our positive expressions of colorectal cancer through CTC detection completely matched those recognized through the pathological analyses for the individuals having stage II, III, and IV colorectal cancer. Nevertheless, two in four individuals having stage I colorectal cancer, recognized through pathological analysis of biopsies from colonoscopies, exhibited positive expression of CTCs. Ten individuals were identified through pathological analysis as having no colorectal tumours. Nevertheless, two of these ten individuals exhibited positive expression of CTCs.ConclusionsThus, in this population, the low cost EBFMs exhibited considerable capture efficiency for the non-invasive diagnosis of colorectal cancer.

Circulating Tumor Cells in Gastrointestinal Cancers: Current Status and Future Perspectives

“…In the early stage of the disease, tumor cells may separate from the primary tumor and enter the bloodstream; this circumstance provides a theoretical basis for CTCs detection as a tool for early diagnosis. Over the past few years, several studies have explored the early diagnostic value of CTCs detection based on different methods in GI malignancies, and the results found that the fraction of patients positive for CTCs is generally considered too low to obtain sufficient sensitivities for true early diagnosis (66,(99)(100)(101). Therefore, screening general populations with a CTCs assessment is not logistically realistic, but may be realistic in the high-risk groups, such as those with a family history of GI cancers.…”

Random and aligned electrospun PLGA nanofibers embedded in microfluidic chips for cancer cell isolation and integration with air foam technology for cell release

“…Fiber-based scaffolds can be generated from many natural or synthetic polymers; they structurally mimic the environment in the extracellular matrix (ECM) and, thereby, ensure more efficient cell–substrate interactions than those provided by planar structures [30, 41]. When combined with suitable cell capture agents [e.g., epithelial cell adhesion molecule antibodies (anti-EpCAM)], the nanostructured surfaces can provide a synergistic effect for enhanced CTC isolation [42–46]. In this context, electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds not only mimic the nano-sized dimensions of the natural ECM with spatial organization on the mesoscopic scale (control over fiber orientation, packing density, and spatial placement) but also provide a simple approach toward engineering nanostructured surfaces to present various bioaffinity agents.…”

Detection and clinical significance of circulating tumor cells in colorectal cancer

“…High cell-substrate affinity and low leukocyte adsorption. EpCAM CRC 66.7–70.6 > 99 – [ 24 ] bio-microchip ZnO nanowire coated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) pillar microchips with a gear structure. More binding sites and rough surface.…”