Circulating tumor cell isolation from clinical samples utilizing a lateral filter array microfluidic device

Abstract

Isolation methods of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) usually rely on either immunoaffinity or size-based separation. However, immunoaffinity methods miss CTCs under-expressing surface markers of interest. Size-based methods miss CTCs with a size less than the filter geometry designed. We have developed a lateral filter array microfluidic (LFAM) device that integrates size-based separation with immunoaffinity-based isolation. We have demonstrated that the LFAM device improves CTC capture from blood samples of colorectal cancer patients when compared to a microfluidic device using either size-based filtration only or immunoaffinity alone.