A Method for Detecting Circulating Tumor Cells Based on the Measurement of Single-Cell Metabolism in Droplet-Based Microfluidics

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2016 Jul 18;55(30):8581-4. doi: 10.1002/anie.201602328. Epub 2016 Jun 1.

Abstract

The number of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in blood is strongly correlated with the progress of metastatic cancer. Current methods to detect CTCs are based on immunostaining or discrimination of physical properties. Herein, a label-free method is presented exploiting the abnormal metabolic behavior of cancer cells. A single-cell analysis technique is used to measure the secretion of acid from individual living tumor cells compartmentalized in microfluidically prepared, monodisperse, picoliter (pL) droplets. As few as 10 tumor cells can be detected in a background of 200 000 white blood cells and proof-of-concept data is shown on the detection of CTCs in the blood of metastatic patients.

Keywords: cancer; circulating tumor cells; metabolism; microfluidics; picodroplets.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Benzopyrans / chemistry
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Humans
  • Leukocytes / cytology
  • Leukocytes / metabolism
  • Lipid Droplets / chemistry*
  • Microfluidics / methods*
  • Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / metabolism*
  • Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / pathology
  • Single-Cell Analysis
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence

Substances

  • Benzopyrans
  • SNARF dye