Circulating tumor cells are a fascinating phenomenon of malignant diseases. Due to the increased motility of cancer cells, the chaotic architecture of tumor vessels with malignant cells potentially forming the inner lining of small blood vessels, tumor cells can enter the circulation. Either being attacked by the host’s immune system or by leaving the circulation to perhaps form micrometastases, CTCs exhibit a very limited half-life in blood stream. The fascination of this epiphenomenon of malignant diseases in medicine is due to the fact that the detection and molecular characterization of CTCs has the potential of developing into minimal-invasive diagnostic procedure thus sparing the patients more risky tumor biopsies in the near future.

Against the background of numerous nucleated blood elements CTCs are rare events. Therefore, searching for CTCs is like looking for a needle in a haystack. We have dev eloped a reliable method of identification of CTCs based on enrichment of CTCs by EpCAM-coated bead separation followed by detection and quantification by real-time PCR ¹².

Test pre-conditions

For CTC analysis 7,5 ml of peripheral blood are needed. For blood sampling and shipment specific vaccum tubes are required. The tubes are provided by our laboratory. The tubes can be stored and shipped at ambient temperature. Detailed rules for sampling are provided with our Specimen Collection and Transport Kit.

Test duration

Maximum test duration is 4 days.

Logistics

Lead time between notification of our Lab and surgery must not be shorter than 24 hours for tissue collection within Germany. Fourty-eight hours are required for other European countries. At least 72 hours are necessary for most non-European countries.