Magnetic nanogels enable optimized capture of circulating tumor cells from blood. Manuscript 11 February 2018 Manuscript: Optimizing Circulating Tumor Cells’ Capture Efficiency of Magnetic Nanogels by Transferrin Decoration Magnetic nanogels with optimized PEG–transferrin linkers achieve over 80% efficiency in selectively capturing circulating tumor cells from blood. Magnetic nanogels (MNGs) are designed with the necessary features to function as highly efficient trapping materials for the challenging task of selectively capturing circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from the bloodstream. A key factor in this process is the ability to discriminate CTCs from hematological cells, which can be optimized by finely tuning the polymers used to link the targeting moiety to the MNGs. Here, we describe the relationship between the capturing efficiency of CTCs with overexpressed transferrin receptors and the different strategies used in polymer linkers to decorate these MNGs with transferrin (Tf). Heterobifunctional polyethylene glycol (PEG) linkers with varying molecular weights were coupled to transferrin in different ratios. Optimal results, with over 80% CTC capture efficiency, were obtained when three PEG linkers with a length of eight ethylene glycol (EG) units were used. These findings highlight the crucial role of linker design in developing efficient CTC-sorting systems. View Manuscript Never Miss a Breakthrough. Get the latest news and innovations from OncoDiscover delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for regular updates Email* Yes, subscribe me for regular updates. * Subscribe Early detection is half the battle won. Book a Test Simply book a CTC Test online or over a phone call and schedule a visit by our registered phlebotomists. Sample Collection Upon booking the CTC Test, one of our registered phlebotomists shall visit and collect 10 ml of patient’s blood sample. Receive Report A set of diagnostics will be run on the patient’s blood sample and the report shall be provided in 7 working days upon receipt of sample on site. Book a test

Cellulose-based transferrin nanocages for CTC enumeration in head & neck cancer. Manuscript 10 October 2020 Manuscript: Cellulose Mediated Transferrin Nanocages for Enumeration of Circulating Tumor Cells for Head and Neck Cancer Magnetic transferrin-functionalized cellulose nanocages capture circulating tumor cells from blood, enabling liquid biopsy for early metastasis detection in head and neck cancer. Herein, we report a hierarchically organized, water-dispersible “nanocage” composed of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), magnetically powered by iron oxide (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles to capture circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from the blood of head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. Capturing CTCs from peripheral blood is extremely challenging due to their low abundance, yet their enumeration is clinically validated in assessing progression-free survival in HNC patients. By engaging multiple hydroxyl groups along the molecular backbone of CNCs, Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were coordinated onto the CNC scaffold. This structure was further modified through conjugation with the protein transferrin (Tf) to enable targeted capture of CTCs. Owing to the presence of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles, the nanocages exhibited magnetic properties, allowing CTCs to be captured under the influence of a magnetic field. Tf–CNC-based nanocages were evaluated using blood samples from HNC patients and their CTC capturing efficiency was compared with the clinically relevant Oncoviu platform. The results demonstrated that CNC-derived nanocages efficiently isolated CTCs from patient blood, achieving approximately 85% capture efficiency relative to the standard platform. The capture efficiency was found to vary depending on the concentration of transferrin and Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles immobilized onto the CNC scaffold. We envision that the Tf–CNC platform holds significant potential in liquid biopsy applications for the isolation and enumeration of CTCs, enabling early detection of metastasis in cancer. View Manuscript Never Miss a Breakthrough. Get the latest news and innovations from OncoDiscover delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for regular updates Email* Yes, subscribe me for regular updates. * Subscribe Early detection is half the battle won. Book a Test Simply book a CTC Test online or over a phone call and schedule a visit by our registered phlebotomists. Sample Collection Upon booking the CTC Test, one of our registered phlebotomists shall visit and collect 10 ml of patient’s blood sample. Receive Report A set of diagnostics will be run on the patient’s blood sample and the report shall be provided in 7 working days upon receipt of sample on site. Book a test

Magnetic nanocrystals capture tumour cells from blood samples Press Release 11 April 2024 Magnetic nanocrystals capture tumour cells from blood samples These nanomaterials could speed up discovery of anti-cancer drugs Cellulose-based magnetic nanocrystals and nanofibres can capture circulating tumour cells (CTCs) from the blood samples of head and neck cancer patients. A magnet is used to separate the trapped tumour cells, which are then identified under a fluorescence microscope. This technique could potentially be used to monitor cancer progression in real time, says an international team, which included researchers at North Dakota State University, USA, the Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, and Actorius Innovations and Research, and Dr. Vishwanath Karad MIT World Peace University, both in Pune. Click the below link to read the full article. Know more Never Miss a Breakthrough. Get the latest news and innovations from OncoDiscover delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for regular updates Email* Yes, subscribe me for regular updates. * Subscribe Early detection is half the battle won. Book a Test Simply book a CTC Test online or over a phone call and schedule a visit by our registered phlebotomists. Sample Collection Upon booking the CTC Test, one of our registered phlebotomists shall visit and collect 10 ml of patient’s blood sample. Receive Report A set of diagnostics will be run on the patient’s blood sample and the report shall be provided in 7 working days upon receipt of sample on site. Book a test

The POP device effectively removes CTCs from blood to reduce metastatic progression. Publications 15 July 2020 ASCO 2020: Device for the enumeration and continuous removal of circulating tumor cells in improving overall survival of epithelial cancer patients The POP blood fluidic device safely removes CTCs with up to 100% efficiency, offering a new therapeutic path to reduce metastasis and improve survival. Background: The presence of circulating tumor cells (CTC) in the vascular system is a tell-tale signature of metastasis in epithelial origin cancers including lung, breast, colorectal and head and neck cancers. Noteworthy, about 90% of cancer deaths are due to the progression of metastasis. Yet, cancer therapy is focussed on inhibiting tumour growth and there is a paucity of options that target metastasis. We demonstrate the POP ‘device’ that removes circulating tumour cells (CTC) from a patient’s blood to reduce the metastatic progression and improve overall survival. Methods: We designed, multi-component glass beads enriched antibody EpCAM conjugate substrates as POP blood fluidic device. We characterized the substrate and accounted for the biocompatibility using whole blood of healthy volunteers. We evaluated, the acute toxicity of substrates using rat (Wistar Albino) whole blood (CPCSEA registration number: 941/PO/Re/S/06/CPCSEA; 31/07/2019) and further studied major histopathological tissues for any toxicity. Finally, we evaluated 06 cancer patients whole blood (1.5 mL) for capturing and for the elimination of CTCs. The captured cells were immuno-stained, and the optimal fluorescence acquisition intensity was critically quantified in accounting CK18 protein overexpression. Results: The multi-component antibody EpCAM based substrate exhibited efficient CTC capture ability with a mean capture efficiency ranging from 40% to 100 % when compared to the OncoDiscover CTC test approved by CDSCO/ drug controller general of India (DCGI). Furthermore, the substrate indicated high biocompatibility primarily exhibited by the absence of haemolysis on whole human blood. Additionally, the preliminary animal experiments in rats showed a 100% survival rate and negligible toxicity to major organs. Conclusions: Removal of circulating tumor cells as a therapeutics is highly implicated in improving the overall survival of epithelial cancer patients. Know more Never Miss a Breakthrough. Get the latest news and innovations from OncoDiscover delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for regular updates Email* Yes, subscribe me for regular updates. * Subscribe Early detection is half the battle won. Book a Test Simply book a CTC Test online or over a phone call and schedule a visit by our registered phlebotomists. Sample Collection Upon booking the CTC Test, one of our registered phlebotomists shall visit and collect 10 ml of patient’s blood sample. Receive Report A set of diagnostics will be run on the patient’s blood sample and the report shall be provided in 7 working days upon receipt of sample on site. Book a test

Combined ctDNA and PD-L1 CTC testing improves lung cancer monitoring and response. Publications 3 June 2025 Quadrant of co-occurrence of circulating tumor DNA and PD-L1 expression on circulating tumor cells in monitoring disease aggressiveness and metastasis in lung cancer. Combined ctDNA and PD-L1–positive CTC analysis improves monitoring of metastasis, minimal residual disease, and treatment response in lung cancer. Background Liquid biopsies analyzing circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) enable minimally invasive monitoring and testing of lung cancer across different stages. Approximately 90% of patients succumb due to metastasis. However, identifying patients with early metastatic signatures remains extremely challenging. In addition, monitoring minimal residual disease (MRD) and identifying patients at risk of recurrence is highly important. While the prognostic role of CTCs in predicting survival has been established in several cancers, the combined role of CTCs and ctDNA in monitoring disease aggressiveness, treatment response, and therapeutic decision-making has not been extensively explored. In this study, we investigated the combined roles of ctDNA and CTCs in monitoring disease aggressiveness and metastasis in lung cancer patients. Methods A cohort of 265 late-stage lung cancer patients was retrospectively analyzed for the co-occurrence of the dual biomarkers ctDNA and CTCs. The results were correlated in a quadrant-based model to assess clinical disease states derived from PET scans and histopathological examination (HPE) findings. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was performed using the OncoMonitor dual biomarker assay, which includes CTC enumeration with PD-L1 expression analysis. CTC counts were determined using the OncoDiscover Liquid Biopsy Test, approved by CDSCO-India, from 1.5 mL of blood. Results CTC distribution ranged from 1 to 8 cells, with a mean value of 1.22. Among the patients, 75.47% (n = 200) were CTC-positive, and among these, 91.50% (n = 183) exhibited PD-L1 expression on their CTCs, with a mean PD-L1–positive CTC value of 0.99. Both biomarkers were positive (ctDNA⁺/CTC⁺) in 135 patients (50.94%). Only 19 patients (7.17%) were negative for both biomarkers (ctDNA⁻/CTC⁻). Additionally, 43 patients (16.23%) were ctDNA⁺/CTC⁻, while 68 patients (25.66%) were ctDNA⁻/CTC⁺. The ctDNA⁺/CTC⁻ cohort exhibited the highest metastatic rate at 62.8%, followed by the ctDNA⁺/CTC⁺ group at 57.0%. The ctDNA-positive cohort showed the highest proportion of progressive disease (20.2% and 18.6% in CTC⁺ and CTC⁻ subgroups, respectively). Mutations in EGFR, TP53, and KRAS were observed in 62.64% (166/265) of patients. Stable disease was observed in 29.4% of patients when both biomarkers were absent (ctDNA⁻/CTC⁻). Conclusions Overall, the ctDNA-positive cohort demonstrated higher rates of MRD, disease progression, and metastasis, with no cases of stable disease. The combined quadrant analysis of CTC-PD-L1 cells and ctDNA provides a non-invasive approach for monitoring disease progression, treatment response, complete remission, and early metastatic detection in lung cancer patients. View Publication Never Miss a Breakthrough. Get the latest news and innovations from OncoDiscover delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for regular updates Email* Yes, subscribe me for regular updates. * Subscribe Early detection is half the battle won. Book a Test Simply book a CTC Test online or over a phone call and schedule a visit by our registered phlebotomists. Sample Collection Upon booking the CTC Test, one of our registered phlebotomists shall visit and collect 10 ml of patient’s blood sample. Receive Report A set of diagnostics will be run on the patient’s blood sample and the report shall be provided in 7 working days upon receipt of sample on site. Book a test

CTCs, clusters, and PD-L1 expression indicate MRD and guide endometrial cancer care. Publications 3 November 2025 PD-L1 over-expression on Circulating Tumor Cells in Endometrial Cancer Patients Khandare J, Ghadyalpatil N, Raja T, Velukuru S, Jadhav V, Satape R, Shinde S, Ashturkar A, Dattatreya P, Vasudevan A Actorius Innovations And Research, Pune, Maharashtra, India; Apollo Cancer Institute, Hyderabad, Telangana, India; Apollo Cancer Centre, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India; Aster CMI Hospital, Bangaluru, Karnataka, India; Renova Soumya Cancer Center, Hyderabad, Telangana, India. Introduction The risk of recurrence in non-metastatic endometrial cancer (EC) within 2–3 years is significant, ranging from 6% to 21%. Lymph node involvement is a key determinant of outcome prediction in patients with operable EC. To improve prognostic accuracy, particularly in the context of curative-intent surgery and adjunct therapy regimens, biomarkers such as circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have not been extensively evaluated in EC. The presence of CTCs as an occult disease component in EC may represent minimal cellular residual disease (MCRD) and could play a role in the metastatic cascade and invasion to distant organs. In this study, we evaluated the distribution of CTCs, their PD-L1 overexpression, and the occurrence of CTC clusters in EC patients. Methods A total of 154 blood samples were retrospectively analyzed, including 133 baseline and 21 follow-up samples (1.5 mL each). CTCs were isolated using the CDSCO India–approved OncoDiscover® CTC Test, which employs immunomagnetic enrichment targeting epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM). CTCs were identified based on immunocytochemical staining as CK18⁺, DAPI⁺, and CD45⁻ cells with distinct morphological features. Fluorescence imaging was performed using a Zeiss Axio Observer 7 microscope, and signal intensities were quantified to assess associations with clinicopathological parameters. PD-L1 expression on CTCs was evaluated through fluorescence-based immunostaining and quantified accordingly. Statistical analyses summarized total CTC counts, PD-L1–positive CTCs, and the presence of CTC clusters. Results A total of 336 CTCs were detected in 116 patients (75.3%). PD-L1 overexpression on CTCs was observed in 52.6% of samples (81 out of 154). Across all 154 patient samples analyzed, the mean values were 1.54 for total CTCs, 0.14 for CTC clusters, and 1.23 for PD-L1–positive CTCs. Notably, 21 patients (13.6%) demonstrated the presence of CTC clusters, accounting for 121 of the 336 total CTCs, suggesting more aggressive disease behavior. The highest proportion of patients belonged to the 61–70-year age group (41.55%). Conclusions This study demonstrates a high prevalence of CTCs in the endometrial cancer population. The presence of CTCs, CTC clusters, and PD-L1–overexpressing CTCs indicates occult minimal residual disease, disease aggressiveness, and potential progression toward metastasis. PD-L1 expression on CTCs may have implications for immunotherapy decision-making, particularly in situations where tissue biopsy is unavailable. View Publication Never Miss a Breakthrough. Get the latest news and innovations from OncoDiscover delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for regular updates Email* Yes, subscribe me for regular updates. * Subscribe Early detection is half the battle won. Book a Test Simply book a CTC Test online or over a phone call and schedule a visit by our registered phlebotomists. Sample Collection Upon booking the CTC Test, one of our registered phlebotomists shall visit and collect 10 ml of patient’s blood sample. Receive Report A set of diagnostics will be run on the patient’s blood sample and the report shall be provided in 7 working days upon receipt of sample on site. Book a test

CTC profiling of PD-L1, HER2, and EGFR guides targeted cancer therapies. Publications 19 April 2023 AACR 2023: Detection of PD-L1, HER2 and EGFR on circulating tumor cells in carcinoma patients. CTC analysis in 134 patients successfully detected PD-L1, HER2, and EGFR, proving its value as a real-time guide for targeted therapies. Background Small molecular inhibitors and immunotherapy have emerged as a novel alternative treatment regime for a variety of epithelial cancers. A large number of clinical trials are in progress worldwide to gauge the efficacy of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) or immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) against actionable targets such as receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and program death ligand 1 (PD-L1). Although highly effective, the outcome of PD-L1 based ICI or TKI against RTKs is vitally contingent on the presence of PD-L1 or RTK expression on cancer cells. Determining druggable targets on the basis of solid biopsy could be often misleading, especially if a patient has progressed in spite of chemotherapy. This could be due to the intrinsic heterogeneity of tumor cells or therapeutic selection pressure or both, leading to alteration in the expression profile of the targets. Additionally, the immunohistochemistry result depends on a multitude of quality controls such as age and integrity of a biopsy sample, lab-to-lab variations in tissue block preparation, and degradation of targets due to chemical fixation methods. This unmet need of reliable detection and monitoring of actionable target expression could be addressed by circulating tumor cells (CTCs) based liquid biopsy tests. To this end, we have developed a CTC-based liquid biopsy assay to detect PD-L1, HER2, and EGFR expression in different epithelial cancers. Methods We retrospectively evaluated peripheral blood samples from a total of 134 carcinoma patients for the presence of CTCs expressing PD-L1, HER2, or EGFR markers respectively. Among these, 45% of patients had lung cancer, while 25% and 20% presented with breast, GI, and colorectal (CRC) malignancies. The remaining were gall bladder, ovarian, prostate, and head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. All lung cancer patients were analyzed for CTCs expressing PD-L1. CTCs were isolated from DCGI-approved OncoDiscover technology based on immunomagnetic targeting of epithelial cell surface molecules (EpCAM). EpCAM-targeted, magnetically isolated cells were considered CTCs on the basis of expression of cytokeratins, absence of CD45, and prominent presence of DAPI-stained nuclei. The presence or absence of aforesaid markers was determined using automated fluorescence imaging. Expression of PD-L1, HER2, or EGFR was detected by fluorescence microscopy using fluorescently labeled anti-PD-L1, HER2, or EGFR antibodies respectively. Based on fluorescence intensity, CTCs were binned as PD-L1, HER2, or EGFR negative for no detectable fluorescence signal, or weakly or strongly positive based on low or high fluorescence signal. Results Among the evaluated cohort, 51% of all CTCs showed the presence of PD-L1 expression, while 63% showed HER2-positive CTCs (all from breast cancer patients). 20% from the PD-L1 positive population showed strong PD-L1 expression. 78% of CTCs from lung cancer patients showed the presence of a detectable PD-L1 signal, while 66% of breast, GI, and CRC patients showed CTCs with PD-L1 expression. CTCs from HNC and gall bladder cancer patients showed the least PD-L1 expression (25% and 50% respectively). Among CTCs originating from different cancer types, breast cancer CTCs showed higher mean expression of PD-L1 compared to CTCs from colorectal cancer patients. A clear subset of CTCs for PD-L1 and HER2 expression was observed in lung and breast cancer patients respectively, suggesting heterogeneity in expression or the presence of different subclones within the same tumor type. Among all CTCs evaluated for EGFR expression, 50% showed the presence of detectable EGFR compared to the cut-off value. Conclusions CTCs isolated from cancers of epithelial origin showed the presence of PD-L1. Similarly, CTCs obtained from breast and lung cancer patients showed HER2 and EGFR expression respectively. Our data suggest that CTCs can be used as a real-time surrogate for molecular profiling of PD-L1, HER2, and EGFR expression, besides being a prognostic marker. Detection of PD-L1, HER2, and EGFR in CTCs offers a potential and viable alternative for immunotherapy or targeted therapy decisions in a vast majority of epithelial cancers. Know more Never Miss a Breakthrough. Get the latest news and innovations from OncoDiscover delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for regular updates Email* Yes, subscribe me for regular updates. * Subscribe Early detection is half the battle won. Book a Test Simply book a CTC Test online or over a phone call and schedule a visit by our registered phlebotomists. Sample Collection Upon booking the CTC Test, one of our registered phlebotomists shall visit and collect 10 ml of patient’s blood sample. Receive Report A set of diagnostics will be run on the patient’s blood sample and the report shall be provided in 7 working days upon receipt of sample on site. Book a test

Dr. Jayant Khandare interview with Metro News Gujarat Press Release 9 August 2022 Revolutionary OncoDiscover® Blood Test for Early Cancer Detection - Metro News Gujarat Dr. Jayant Khandare interview with Metro News Gujarat Watch Video Never Miss a Breakthrough. Get the latest news and innovations from OncoDiscover delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for regular updates Email* Yes, subscribe me for regular updates. * Subscribe Early detection is half the battle won. Book a Test Simply book a CTC Test online or over a phone call and schedule a visit by our registered phlebotomists. Sample Collection Upon booking the CTC Test, one of our registered phlebotomists shall visit and collect 10 ml of patient’s blood sample. Receive Report A set of diagnostics will be run on the patient’s blood sample and the report shall be provided in 7 working days upon receipt of sample on site. Book a test

CaP-crowned CNT nanocapsules enable pH-triggered intracellular anticancer drug delivery. Manuscript 17 April 2015 Manuscript:Calcium phosphate nanocapsule crowned multiwalled carbon nanotubes for pH triggered intracellular anticancer drug release Calcium phosphate–capped carbon nanotubes enable pH-triggered intracellular release of doxorubicin, preventing premature drug leakage and improving targeted cancer therapy. We report calcium phosphate (CaP) nanocapsule–crowned multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNT–GSH–G4–CaP) as a novel platform for the intracellular delivery of an anticancer drug. As a proof of concept, the CNT–GSH–G4–CaP system demonstrates the release of the anticancer drug doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) within intracellular lysosomes from the interior cavity of the CNT through pH-triggered CaP dissolution. Importantly, we found that CNTs capped with a CaP nanolid can efficiently prevent premature drug release at physiological pH, while promoting DOX release in more acidic environments, such as those found in subcellular compartments like lysosomes (pH ≈ 5.0). This “zero premature release” characteristic is of significant clinical importance for delivering cytotoxic drugs, as it helps reduce systemic toxicity and enhances the effectiveness of anticancer treatment. We envision that this pH-triggered CaP-crowned CNT nanosystem could lead to a new generation of self-regulated platforms for the intracellular delivery of a wide range of anticancer drugs. View Manuscript Never Miss a Breakthrough. Get the latest news and innovations from OncoDiscover delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for regular updates Email* Yes, subscribe me for regular updates. * Subscribe Early detection is half the battle won. Book a Test Simply book a CTC Test online or over a phone call and schedule a visit by our registered phlebotomists. Sample Collection Upon booking the CTC Test, one of our registered phlebotomists shall visit and collect 10 ml of patient’s blood sample. Receive Report A set of diagnostics will be run on the patient’s blood sample and the report shall be provided in 7 working days upon receipt of sample on site. Book a test

CTC-based PD-L1 and EGFR detection supports targeted therapy in lung cancer. Publications 24 October 2023 ESMO 2023: Expression of PD-L1 and EGFR on circulating tumor cells in advanced Lung cancer patients CTC analysis using OncoDiscover® enables dynamic detection of PD-L1 and EGFR targets in advanced lung cancer, supporting personalized targeted and immunotherapy decisions. Background: Targeted molecular therapy and immunotherapy have revolutionized the treatment of advanced lung cancer (ALC). Although therapeutically significant, the outcome of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) or tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) depends on the presence of their respective targets in tumor cells. Evaluating targets based on solid tissue biopsy may often be misleading, particularly in progressive patients despite therapy administration. Additionally, tissue biopsy provides a static signature of target protein expression from an evolving tumor. The unmet need for dynamic detection and monitoring of actionable targets could be addressed by circulating tumor cells (CTCs). Here, we report on the utility of CTCs to detect actionable targets in advanced lung cancer (ALC) patients. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 193 ALC patients for programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and EGFR expression on CTCs. CTCs were isolated using the Drug Controller General of India-approved OncoDiscover technology based on immunomagnetic targeting using anti-EpCAM antibodies and immunostaining with anti-EGFR and PD-L1 antibodies. CTCs were detected based on the expression of cytokeratins (CKs), absence of CD45, and prominent DAPI-stained nuclei. The presence or absence of EGFR and PD-L1 was determined using automated immunofluorescence microscopy. Results: Among the evaluated cohort, 67% of patients showed the presence of CTCs with a mean value of 4.2 (range: 1 to 62; SD = 10.65). The absence of CTCs in the remaining 33% of patients could be attributed to therapy response in clinically stable disease. Among all patients showing the presence of CTCs, 66% showed detectable expression of PD-L1, while 42% showed strong expression of EGFR. The presence of PD-L1 demonstrated a significant association with CTCs. Similarly, the expression of EGFR among detected CTCs showed high significance compared to reported tissue biopsy data in the literature. Conclusions: Detection of therapeutic targets on CTCs obtained from advanced lung cancer patients strongly indicates that these patients may qualify for anti-EGFR and PD-L1 targeted therapies. Systematic studies with larger sample sizes are required to further strengthen liquid biopsy–based detection of actionable targets. This approach could significantly benefit advanced lung cancer patients showing progressive disease despite chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Know more Never Miss a Breakthrough. Get the latest news and innovations from OncoDiscover delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for regular updates Email* Yes, subscribe me for regular updates. * Subscribe Early detection is half the battle won. Book a Test Simply book a CTC Test online or over a phone call and schedule a visit by our registered phlebotomists. Sample Collection Upon booking the CTC Test, one of our registered phlebotomists shall visit and collect 10 ml of patient’s blood sample. Receive Report A set of diagnostics will be run on the patient’s blood sample and the report shall be provided in 7 working days upon receipt of sample on site. Book a test

AI-based image analysis rapidly profiles CTC morphology and biomarker expression. Publications 16 September 2025 Profiling of PD-L1 and HER2 over expression on cancer cells using AI based macro-driven automation AI-based image analysis rapidly profiles circulating tumor cells, quantifying morphology and biomarkers like PD-L1 and HER2 for cancer research. Abstract Background Extravasation, invasion, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions, metastasis progression, immune evasion, and therapeutic resistance are driven by phenotypic alterations in cancer cells. Assessing cell morphology, stiffness, and deformability is therefore crucial. The expression of PD-L1, HER2, EGFR, and cytokeratins (CKs) serves as key phenotypic biomarkers for precision oncology. We developed an AI-based image analysis tool that rapidly captures these transitions in cell assays, including specific protein biomarkers expressed on circulating tumor cells (CTCs). Methods We extended an ImageJ macro to enable rapid and reproducible extraction of biophysical parameters. The macro processes .lif, .nd2, and .czi file formats, using DAPI for nuclear segmentation and fluorophore-conjugated antibodies to delineate cytoplasmic boundaries. We evaluated automatic channel detection, intensity normalization, Otsu thresholding, and per-cell quantification of parameters such as surface area, circularity index (CI), and mean fluorescence intensity. Violin plots illustrated temporal variations in CI across A549 and MCF7 cells. Validation was conducted on CTCs isolated from cancer patient samples (n = 100) for PD-L1 and HER2 expression. Results The macro reduced image processing time from 7 minutes to 3 seconds per sample. A549 cells showed higher and more consistent CI values across all time points, while MCF7 cells demonstrated lower CI with greater variability, particularly at 24 and 72 hours. Quantitative measurements of PD-L1 and HER2 expression showed 100% concordance between the ImageJ macro and Zeiss software outputs, confirming analytical accuracy. CK18 intensity (~60–400) and PD-L1 (~20–50) levels measured by both platforms validated the macro’s ability to detect a wide range of marker expression in CTC subsets. CTCs exhibited higher CI values and greater morphological heterogeneity, consistent with their invasive phenotype. Conclusions We present an AI-driven macro that quantifies the biophysical characteristics of cancer cells, enabling precise phenotypic profiling, including circularity index, proliferation rates, and overexpression of biomarkers such as PD-L1 and HER2 in both cultured cell lines and patient-derived CTCs. View Publication Never Miss a Breakthrough. Get the latest news and innovations from OncoDiscover delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for regular updates Email* Yes, subscribe me for regular updates. * Subscribe Early detection is half the battle won. Book a Test Simply book a CTC Test online or over a phone call and schedule a visit by our registered phlebotomists. Sample Collection Upon booking the CTC Test, one of our registered phlebotomists shall visit and collect 10 ml of patient’s blood sample. Receive Report A set of diagnostics will be run on the patient’s blood sample and the report shall be provided in 7 working days upon receipt of sample on site. Book a test

Liquid biopsy may replace invasive procedure to detect cancer Press Release 23 April 2020 Times of India | Liquid biopsy may replace invasive procedure to detect cancer: Experts Liquid biopsy may replace invasive procedure to detect cancer: Experts Read the article Never Miss a Breakthrough. Get the latest news and innovations from OncoDiscover delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for regular updates Email* Yes, subscribe me for regular updates. * Subscribe Early detection is half the battle won. Book a Test Simply book a CTC Test online or over a phone call and schedule a visit by our registered phlebotomists. Sample Collection Upon booking the CTC Test, one of our registered phlebotomists shall visit and collect 10 ml of patient’s blood sample. Receive Report A set of diagnostics will be run on the patient’s blood sample and the report shall be provided in 7 working days upon receipt of sample on site. Book a test