CanScan

In the simplest terms, Circulating tumor cells, or CTCs are rare cells that have separated from tumors and are found circulating in a cancer patient’s blood.  Recent research by Dr. Massimo Cristofanilli (Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia) has shown that as little as five CTCs per 7.5 mL of blood can predict poorer overall survival compared to those that have fewer.  So what exactly are these cells, and how can they predict overall survival?

First reported in 1869 by the Australian physician, Thomas Ashworth, he observed and characterized a group of cells circulating in the blood of a patient with metastatic cancer. They appeared to resemble cells making up the primary tumor, but were found circulating in various parts of the patient’s body. Based on this initial observation, he postulated that these rare cells may be the initial ‘seeds’ that lead to the propagation of cancer at distant sites, occurring far away from where the original tumor may reside – the central component of metastasis.

Currently there is one FDA approved device to isolate and enumerate CTCs, CellSearch by Veridex (Johnson & Johnson Company), and the company has gained notoriety for their joint ventures, most recently in a $30 million deal with Massachusetts General Hospital to advance their technology. However, their approach is limited in its detection ability, largely due to their use of antibodies that target only adenocarcinomas. In other words, if CTCs do not express these markers, these cells would go undetected, and cancers would go undiagnosed.

CanScan’s core technology does not require the use of antibodies, but it is focused on the central paradigm of metastasis – in that CTCs are programmed to invade, attach and rapidly divide to promote cancer progression. In the next 10 weeks, CanScan will provide a comprehensive overview of its technology and will offer proof-of-concept prototypes before officially launching in late 2012.