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

EMF triplet therapy and CTC monitoring improve HNSCC outcomes and predict response. Publications 7 June 2022 ASCO 2022: A feasibility study of EMF (erlotinib+methotrexate+5-fluorouracil) regimen in recurrent HNSCC and role of CTCs in assessment of outcomes. A phase II trial shows EMF triplet therapy is a safe, effective option for HNSCC, with CTCs serving as a promising biomarker for therapy response. Background Head and neck cancer is a huge burden in South East Asia with frequent relapse after curative therapy, while the rest present in advanced unresectable stages. Financial constraints for targeted and immunotherapy make it inaccessible for the bulk of the population. Thus, a low-cost but efficacious regimen is highly implicated. We assessed if the readily available triplet therapy of EMF is superior in terms of extending life and maintaining quality of life, along with the evaluation of CTCs as a predictive biomarker in such patients. Methods This was a single-arm, phase II, investigator-initiated interventional study, wherein 35 patients were enrolled. Platinum-resistant/refractory patients of HNSCC were treated with a combination of erlotinib 150 mg daily, methotrexate 40 mg/m2, and 5-fluorouracil 500 mg/m2 (d1, d8) q28 days till progression or unacceptable toxicities. The primary endpoint was the overall response rate (ORR) at 3 months; additional endpoints were disease control rate (DCR) at 3 months, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), safety, and patient-reported quality of life (QOL). The role of CTCs in gauging the responders and non-responders was monitored using anti-Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule antibody-based enrichment on the OncoDiscover Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) approved platform. Results The ORR and DCR at 3 months were 45.7% and 68.5%, respectively. The median PFS was 5 months (95% CI: 3.9-6 months) and median OS was 9 months (95% CI: 7.4-10.5 months). The 3- and 6-month PFS rates were 86 ± 6% and 45 ± 9%, respectively, while OS rates at 3 and 6 months were 91 ± 5% and 68 ± 8%, respectively. Rash, mucositis, and fatigue were common adverse events occurring in 23 (65%), 14 (40%), and 9 (25.7%) patients respectively. The grade 3 events seen were rash in 5 (14.2%) and diarrhea in 2 (5.7%). Clinically significant improvement was seen in domains of role functioning, social functioning, fatigue, pain and global health status, swallowing, dryness of mouth, and feeling ill. The mean CTC count at baseline was 0.90 ± 1.1 / 1.5 ml of blood. Responders showed a decline in levels from 1.19 ± 0.25 to 0.33 ± 0.48, while non-responders had an increasing trend: 0.29 ± 0.48 to 1 ± 0.10 at 3 months (p = 0.010); with concordance rates with response being 52.9%. Additionally, CTC clearance at 3 months had a numerically better PFS of ~6 months (95% CI: 4.72-7.72) and OS of 10 months (95% CI: 2.3-5.65) vs 4 months (95% CI: 2.3-5.65), p = 0.258, and 8 months (95% CI: 4.3-11.6), p = 0.203 in those with persistence of CTCs. Conclusions The triplet regimen of EMF is a feasible, safe therapeutic option with favorable response rates and improved QOL in patients with platinum-resistant/refractory HNSCC. CTCs have a promising futuristic role as a predictive biomarker and can be extrapolated in the clinical upfront setting too. Clinical Trial Information CTRI/2020/02/023378. 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

Actorius Innovations at ASCO 2026 Publications 17 March 2026 ASCO 2026: Comparative enumeration of circulating tumor cells with PD-L1 over expression using anti EpCAM antibody to N-Cadherin in solid cancers Dual EpCAM and N-cadherin profiling improves circulating tumor cell detection, enhancing minimal residual disease surveillance and identifying metastasis-prone cells. Abstract Background Minimal cellular residual disease (MCRD) with PD-L1 expression on circulating tumor cells (CTCs) is highly evidenced for possible aggressive diseases systemically. CTCs captured using N-cadherin—a calcium-dependent transmembrane glycoprotein—targets epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) tumor cells. There is a difference in phenotypic specificity, as EpCAM likely misses CTCs that have undergone EMT, while N-cadherin enables the detection of these aggressive, invasive cells. Thus, N-cadherin-based CTC capture is more effective for identifying metastasis-prone CTCs. Using both markers together may improve overall CTC capture efficiency to provide a more comprehensive landscape of tumor heterogeneity and disease progression. We show the comparative and paired outcome of CTC capture using both anti-EpCAM antibodies versus N-cadherin across solid cancers. Methods Retrospectively, we compared 33 patients with different stages of breast, rectal, colon, prostate, lung, and other cancers. CTCs were detected using an affinity marker-independent isolation platform to avoid EpCAM bias. CTCs were isolated using a marker-independent, anti-EpCAM-positive, and N-cadherin-positive OncoDiscover platform evaluating PD-L1+ expression using automated Zeiss microscopy. Anti-EpCAM-positive and N-cadherin-positive CTCs were classified using validated intensity thresholds, concordance/discordance rates, cluster frequency, and the mean distribution of CTCs. Results OncoDiscover platform EpCAM and N-cadherin expression showed an overall concordance of 60.61% and a discordance of 39.39%, indicating EMT-related phenotypic divergence. The mean CTC counts were comparable between anti-EpCAM-positive and N-cadherin-positive samples (0.66 and 0.70 per sample, respectively). Among EpCAM-positive CTCs, 42.85% expressed PD-L1, whereas PD-L1 positivity was lower and present in 30.30% of N-cadherin-positive CTCs. Importantly, 4 N-cadherin+/EpCAM- PD-L1-positive CTCs were identified, which were not captured by EpCAM affinity; conversely, 6 EpCAM+/PD-L1+ CTCs lacked N-cadherin expression. Notably, CTC clusters were found in 12.12% of EpCAM+ cases and 6.06% of N-cadherin-positive cases. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that dual-marker profiling improves detection sensitivity relative to single-marker interrogation. Conclusions Using both EpCAM and N-cadherin together improved CTC capture efficiency. However, N-cadherin-based CTC capture is more implicative in identifying metastasis-prone CTCs. The dual affinity accounts for CTCs for MCRD surveillance for the presence of disease systemically and is indicative of the progression of micro-metastasis. 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 together with Shh and Nrf2 are prospective diagnostic markers for HNSCC Manuscript 4 April 2024 Manuscript: CTC together with Shh and Nrf2 are prospective diagnostic markers for HNSCC Study links Shh/Nrf2 overexpression with circulating tumor cells in HNSCC, highlighting their potential as biomarkers for early detection and survival prediction. Background The lack of appropriate prognostic biomarkers remains a significant obstacle in the early detection of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC), a cancer type with a high mortality rate. Despite considerable advancements in treatment, the success in diagnosing HNSCC at an early stage still needs to be improved. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) are overexpressed in various cancers, including HNSCC, and have recently been proposed as possible therapeutic targets for HNSCC. Circulating Tumor Cell (CTC) is a novel concept used for the early detection of cancers, and studies have suggested that a higher CTC count is associated with the aggressiveness of HNSCC and poor survival rates. Therefore, we aimed to establish molecular markers for the early diagnosis of HNSCC considering Shh/Nrf2 overexpression in the background. In addition, the relation between Shh/Nrf2 and CTCs is still unexplored in HNSCC patients. Methods In the present study, we selected a cohort of 151 HNSCC patients and categorized them as CTC positive or negative based on the presence or absence of CTCs in their peripheral blood. Data on demographic and clinicopathological features with the survival of the patients were analyzed to select the patient cohort to study Shh/Nrf2 expression. Shh and Nrf2 expression was measured by qRT-PCR. Results Considering significant demographic [smoking, betel leaf (p-value < 0.0001)] and clinicopathological risk factors [RBC count (p < 0.05), Platelet count (p < 0.05), Neutrophil count (p < 0.005), MCV (p < 0.0001), NLR (p < 0.05), MLR (p < 0.05)], patients who tested positive for CTC also exhibited significant overexpression of Shh/Nrf2 in both blood and tissue compared to CTC-negative patients. A strong association exists between CTCs and tumor grade. Following chemotherapy (a combination of Cisplatin, 5FU, and Paclitaxel), the frequency of CTCs was significantly decreased in patients with HNSCC who had tested positive for CTCs. The Kaplan–Meier plot illustrated that a higher number of CTCs is associated with poorer overall survival (OS) in patients with HNSCC. 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

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Large study shows CTCs and clusters predict aggressive epithelial cancer progression. Publications 10 April 2024 AACR 2024: Distribution prophecy of circulating tumor cell clusters in CTC populace patients of epithelial cancers Large-scale analysis of circulating tumor cells and clusters reveals their role in predicting aggressive epithelial cancers and treatment resistance. Background: The role of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in metastatic cancers for predicting overall survival has been well established. The effectiveness of three- or six-month adjuvant therapy in colorectal cancer estimation has shown an association between CTCs and the emergence of resistant cell clones. The presence of CTC clusters indicates increased aggressiveness in epithelial cancers. However, the presence of CTC clusters has not been evaluated in large patient populations. Here, we demonstrate the distribution and prognostic significance of CTCs and CTC clusters in epithelial cancer patients. Methods: Retrospectively, blood samples from 3458 patients were analyzed for the presence and distribution of CTCs and CTC clusters using the DCGI-approved OncoDiscover platform, which uses an immunomagnetic multicomponent system mediated by an anti-EpCAM antibody. A total of 1.5 mL of peripheral blood was analyzed to capture cells and clusters from head and neck, breast, and lung cancer patients. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the OncoDiscover assay had been previously established. CTCs and clusters were identified using CK18 positive, DAPI positive, and CD45 negative staining with automated motorized fluorescence microscopy. CTC clusters were defined as the presence of two or more CTCs bound together. Results: Out of 3458 epithelial cancer patients, 65.52% (2262 patients) showed the presence of CTCs, with CTC numbers varying from 1–9 per 1.5 mL of blood. Meanwhile, 7.54% of patients showed CTC clusters, corresponding to 261 clusters. The total number of captured CTCs and clusters was 19,345, with a mean distribution of 5.59. Among these, CTCs accounted for 19,037 (98.41%), while clusters accounted for 308 (1.59%). The highest number of CTCs was observed in head and neck cancers (52.98%) and breast cancers (22.75%), followed by lung cancer (5.65%). In contrast, clusters were most frequently observed in breast cancers (26.95%), followed by lung cancer (16.23%). Conclusions: The frequency and distribution of CTCs and CTC clusters were evaluated in epithelial cancers. Patients with CTCs alone and those with both CTCs and CTC clusters represent a more aggressive disease state and a higher likelihood of disease progression. The effectiveness of adjuvant therapy in epithelial cancers may be estimated using CTC and cluster analysis, as their presence may indicate treatment resistance and the emergence of resistant cell clones. 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

CK18 variance in CTCs across cancer types necessitates validated enumeration. Publications 9 October 2021 ESMO 2021: Validation of Cytokeratin (CK18) Protein Expression in Epithelial Cell lines and in Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) Study shows significant CK18 expression variance across different cancer cell lines and CTCs, highlighting the need for regulated enumeration tools. Background CTCs predict an unfavourable prognosis and outcomes in cancers. Lowering of cytokeratin 18 expression is a hallmark of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT). Homogeneity and validation of CK18 expression in cancer cell lines and CTCs originating from distinct solid tumors is indeterminate and may contribute to non-specific counts. We hypothesize that the expression of CK18 in varied cell lines may differ quantitatively, and additionally may exhibit similar trends in CTCs enumerated from different tumor types. Methods CK18 variance in epithelial cell lines (e.g., A549+, MCF-7+, and MEF-) (n=192,269 cells) and CTCs (n=63) of different phenotypes was analyzed and compared. The fluorescence intensity was measured post-immunostaining, using motorized-automated, computer-assisted scanning, and through a customized ImageJ macro tool. The effect of anti-CK18 concentrations (0.06-6 μg/ml) and binding constants (Kb) was measured across all cell lines. CTCs were enumerated from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients' blood samples (CTRI/2018/03/012905) and from clinical samples (e.g., breast, lung, colorectal (CRC), ovarian) using the clinically relevant OncoDiscover platform. Results CK18 mapping revealed diverse fluorescence intensities distribution in three cell lines, as well as in HNSCC, lung, breast, ovarian, and colorectal cancer CTCs (Table). In addition, the protein binding assay showed 8.65 x 10^3 Kb (M^-1) for MCF7 and 7.9 x 10^3 for A549 cells indicating concentration-dependent binding for CK18 expressing proteins on cells and may be varied in CTCs of different cancer types. Compared to the CK- cell line (MEF), the normalized CK18 intensity was higher by 290% and 310%, respectively, in MCF7 (breast) and A549 (lung) cells, demonstrating the variation in CK18 expression. On the other hand, CTCs showed significant diversity in CK18 expression with buccal mucosa revealing the lowest (67%), while CTCs of CRC origin demonstrated the highest expression (320%) (Table). CK18 intensity was represented across the cell lines and on CTCs enumerated from different cancer types. Conclusions Non-regulated CTC enumeration platforms pre-requisite critical validations to eliminate the non-specificity of CTC counts, which are highly imperative to clinical decisions in cancer management. Clinical Trial Identification CTRI/2018/03/012905. 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

3D-printed G-EpCAM device effectively captures CTCs to stem metastatic progression. Publications 7 June 2022 ASCO 2022: Extracorporeal microchannel device to capture and eliminate circulating tumor cells from cancer patient’s blood. A 3D-printed G-EpCAM device successfully captured over 85% of CTCs with minimal hemolysis, offering a new way to stem metastatic progression. Background Metastatic progression accounts for nearly 90% of cancer-related deaths and has been directly correlated with the presence of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in numerous carcinomas, including breast, lung, ovarian, colorectal, and head and neck cancers. The removal of CTCs from cancer patients' blood is directly implicated in the reduction of extravasation and disease invasiveness to secondary organs. Methods We designed and printed 3-dimensional (3D) microchannel devices using a biocompatible polymer and packed them with anti-EpCAM (EpCAM) mediated glass-based (G) compositions (G-EpCAM). Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analysis simulation was explored to optimize the hemodynamic effect of the G-EpCAM device for measuring the pressure and velocity difference for blood along the spiral flow microchannels. Red blood cell (RBC) hemolysis was estimated using G-EpCAM compositions packed in a device to determine optimal biocompatibility. We assessed cancer cell lines' (breast cancer MCF7, lung cancer A549) interactions and capture with varying incubation time points, the effect of anti-EpCAM concentrations, the number of G-EpCAMs, and series of devices. We evaluated the G-EpCAM-on-device's CTC capture capability and biocompatibility using head and neck, colorectal, lung, and ductal breast cancer patients' blood samples. All G-EpCAM captured CTCs were immunostained for cytokeratin 18 (CK18) expression, and the optimal fluorescence acquisition intensity was quantified. Results The extracorporeal G-EpCAM microchannel device was 3D printed and consisted of an interlocking top lid and bottom base with inlet and outlet channels. The path length of the spiral device consisted of 20 microchannels with a 6.0-foot length. The device accommodated 28 gm of non-hemolytic G-EpCAM compositions. CFD analysis showed 3.8 mm as the ideal channel diameter and 2 mm as the superlative G-EpCAM diameter for maximal cell and CTC capture with minimal blood hemolysis (less than 1%) as compared to the control. Series 1 and 2 devices indicated 90% and 85% cell capture efficiency, respectively, using G-EpCAM devices, indicating the highest interactions and efficiency with cells. Conversely, the first device in the series captured the highest number of cells. In addition, the efficiency improved as the number of G-EpCAM compositions was increased. We accounted for the device to capture CTCs with specificity using the G-EpCAM composition and observed no hemolysis or non-specific interactions with other blood cells like RBCs or leukocytes. Conclusions Continuous CTC removal from cancer patients' blood circulation using such a device offers promising therapeutic utility in stemming aggressive metastatic invasion and progression for improving the overall survival of epithelial origin cancer patients. Clinical Trial Information CTRI U1111/1192-3951. 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

Access research manuscripts and scientific contributions from Actorius highlighting advances in oncology research, CTC detection, and liquid biopsy technologies. Manuscripts Research That Shapes the Future of Oncology Access studies, scientific papers, and published findings advancing cancer diagnostics and care. 27 January 2026 Read More Manuscript: Real-Time Therapy Response Monitoring Using Surface Biomarkers on Circulating Tumor Cells Circulating tumor cells (CTCs), cancer cells shed from primary tumors into the bloodstream, are emerging as dynamic, non-invasive biomarkers for real-time cancer monitoring, especially when tissue biopsies are inaccessible or inadequate... 14 March 2025 Read More Manuscript: The impact of co-occurring tumor suppressor mutations with mEGFR as early indicators of relapse in lung cancer A set of 17 co-occurring TSG mutations has been identified as key biomarkers for early relapse in mEGFR lung adenocarcinoma. Longitudinal genomic monitoring, with a focus on clonal evolution, offers valuable insights that can inform personalized treatment strategies and potentially improve patient outcomes. 15 July 2024 Read More Manuscript: Inverse 3D ‘lab-on-a-chip’ polymeric microfilms for selective capture of circulating tumor cells from patients' blood Inverse 3D lab-on-chip microfilms for selective CTC capture from blood. 29 June 2024 Read More Manuscript: Circulating Tumor Cells as Biomarkers for Relapse Detection in Rectal Cancer with Liver Metastasis: Insights from a Case Report In this case report we demonstrate the utility of CTC as a sensitive marker to detect MRD. CTCs play a crucial role in the context of MRD in colorectal cancer, offering a valuable biomarker for prognosis, treatment monitoring, and early detection of recurrence. 4 April 2024 Read More Manuscript: CTC together with Shh and Nrf2 are prospective diagnostic markers for HNSCC Study links Shh/Nrf2 overexpression with circulating tumor cells in HNSCC, highlighting their potential as biomarkers for early detection and survival prediction. 20 September 2023 Read More Manuscript: Magnetically-activated, nanostructured cellulose for efficient capture of CTCs from the blood sample of head and neck cancer patients Study compares CNC and CNF cellulose nanostructures for EpCAM-based CTC capture in head and neck cancer, enabling affordable real-time cancer monitoring. 20 July 2023 Read More Manuscript: Role of circulating tumour cells (CTCs) in recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) This study highlights the utility of CTCs as a disease progression monitoring tool in recurrent HNSCC patients. Our findings suggest the potential clinical utility of CTCs and the need for further exploration in upfront settings of the disease as well (NCT: CTRL/2020/02/023378). 11 April 2023 Read More Manuscript: Chemical tunability of advanced materials used in the fabrication of micro/nanobots Review on chemically tunable micro- and nanobots for targeted nanomedicine, highlighting AI materials, applications, and biosafety considerations. 1 July 2022 Read More Manuscript: Circulating tumor cells as a predictor for poor prognostic factors and overall survival in treatment nay¨ve oral squamous cell carcinoma patients Preoperative circulating tumor cell levels strongly correlate with metastasis, disease severity, and reduced survival in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients. 27 April 2022 Read More Manuscript: Bioinspired Materials for Wearable Devices and Point-of-Care Testing of Cancer Raj Shankar Hazra, Md Rakib Hasan Khan, Narendra Kale, Tabassum Tanha, Jayant Khandare, Sabha Ganai, and Mohiuddin Quadir* 18 February 2022 Read More Manuscript: Antibody mediated cotton-archetypal substrate for enumeration of circulating tumor cells and chemotherapy outcome in 3D tumors Cotton microfluidic substrate enables efficient CTC isolation, 3D tumor growth, and drug response testing for improved cancer diagnostics and therapy research. 18 December 2020 Read More Manuscript: Chemo-specific designs for the enumeration of circulating tumor cells: advances in liquid biopsy Review on chemo-specific nano/micro substrates for efficient CTC isolation, enabling liquid biopsy, metastasis detection, and real-time cancer monitoring. 10 October 2020 Read More 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. 11 February 2018 Read More 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. 17 January 2018 Read More Manuscript: Selective Cell Isolation by Transferrin Functionalized Silane– Carbon Soot Mediated Superhydrophobic Micropatterns Transferrin-functionalized wettability micropatterns enable selective cancer cell capture and real-time monitoring for diagnostics and recurrence detection. 17 January 2017 Read More Manuscript: Biofunctionalized Capillary Flow Channel Platform Integrated with 3D Nanostructured Matrix to Capture Circulating Tumor Cells Continuous-flow 3D microchannel platform captures circulating tumor cells with ~90% efficiency, enabling liquid biopsy and real-time cancer monitoring. 17 April 2015 Read More 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. 13 April 2015 Read More Manuscript: Self-propelled Carbon Nanotube Based Microrockets for Rapid Capture and Isolation of Circulating Tumor Cells Self-propelled CNT microrockets rapidly capture and magnetically isolate circulating tumor cells, enabling faster liquid biopsy and early cancer detection. 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 First Prev 1 Page 1 Next Last

Comprehensive ctDNA and CTC profiling predicts metastasis in early breast cancer. Publications 15 January 2023 AACR 2023: Abstract PR007: Comprehensive ctDNA profiling reveals potential metastatic genomic signatures in treatment-naive early-stage breast cancer patients Comprehensive ctDNA profiling and CTC analysis in early-stage breast cancer identifies driver mutations to predict early metastasis. Background Genomic profiling has revolutionized precision oncology, impacting diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy decisions. Considering the high spatiotemporal diversity and heterogeneity of breast tumor-cell genomes, small-gene panels often fail to capture rare but important genomic alterations. Conversely, comprehensive ctDNA sequencing approaches enable the identification of under-characterized 'long-tailed driver' genomic alterations and capture intra- and inter-metastatic heterogeneity. Here, we demonstrate the clinical utility of comprehensive genome profiling with higher sensitivity to predict the possibility of metastasis in early-stage breast cancer patients. Methods We retrospectively analyzed ctDNA and genomic DNA (gDNA) from FFPE samples, as well as circulating tumor cells (CTCs), in 10 treatment-naive, hormone-positive, and HER2-negative primary-stage breast cancer patients using the OncoIndx comprehensive 600-gene panel. The panel captures all important cancer-relevant genomic alterations, including tumor mutation burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) prediction, and cfDNA tumor fraction (TF). CTCs were enumerated from 1.5 ml of blood using the OncoDiscover platform, approved by the Drug Controller General of India, using anti-EpCAM antibody-mediated immunomagnetic nanoparticles. CTCs were confirmed for cytokeratin 18+ and DAPI+ markers, and the absence of CD45. Results The comprehensive genomic profile obtained from ctDNA and gDNA from the FFPE of early-stage breast cancer patients predominantly exhibited the presence of alterations in PIK3CA and ESR1 signaling pathways. PIK3CA mutations were present in 77% and 44% of baseline ctDNA and gDNA samples, while ESR1 mutations were present in 44% and 22% of baseline ctDNA and gDNA, respectively. In addition, we observed about 70% additional driver mutations in ctDNA samples, suggesting the shedding of ctDNA together with CTCs (80% positive) as a likely positive biomarker of metastasis. About 50% of the patients showed higher TMB and HRD. Notably, TF representing ctDNA varied between 13% to 27% in blood samples with a corresponding ploidy range of 2.9 to 4.7. Surprisingly, ~50% of the patient population matched the mutation profile of clinically confirmed metastatic patients. All the patients harboring potential metastatic driver alterations showed the presence of CTCs in peripheral blood. Conclusions Comprehensive ctDNA genomic profiling showed potential metastasis-driving alterations, suggesting the role of ctDNA-based liquid biopsy to predict metastasis in early breast cancer patients. We observed enhanced TF at the time of diagnosis, possibly due to the presence of distant metastasis, high disease burden, and aggressive tumor biology. Our results suggest that ctDNA dynamics at the time of disease presentation can predict early metastasis and may demonstrate the divergent response of tumor heterogeneity to treatment in early-stage breast cancer. 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

ML models using CTCs predict surgery and adjuvant therapy success in HNSCC. Publications 7 June 2022 ASCO 2022: Machine learning (ML)–enabled, circulating tumor cell–based classification of patients for non-prerequisite adjuvant therapy. An XGBoost ML model using CTCs and clinical data achieved 84% accuracy in predicting the need for adjuvant therapy in 380 HNSCC patients. Background Oncology implicates the highest precision using next-generation diagnostics and progressive therapies assisted by predictive tools. If validated clinically, machine learning (ML) can provide better insights in precision oncology. Furthermore, it may longitudinally stratify the progression of cancer disease burden in real time. We have developed a circulating tumor cells (CTCs) driven ML model as a predictor for the treatment decision strategy for both surgery and adjuvant therapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients. Methods In this study, a total of 380 HNSCC patients who underwent either surgery alone or surgery plus adjuvant therapy were accounted for. CTCs in patients were stratified based on clinicopathological parameters and using the OncoDiscover platform having an anti-EpCAM antibody system regulated by the Drug Controller of India. Following this, we explored the predictive performance of the ML model on the usefulness of adjuvant therapy in HNSCC patients after the surgery. The available data was randomly divided into two subsets. First, 75% of the original data was applied for training the ML, and the rest 25% of the data was used as a test set. Survival curves were generated by the Kaplan–Meier method and calculated through the log-rank test. Results The XGBoost machine learning classifier was superior to Random Forest and SVM-based analyses in predicting the usefulness of adjuvant therapy post-surgery using CTCs alone or in combination with other clinical parameters in HNSCC patients. Machine learning algorithms were compared for predicting the accuracy of patient stratification. The results for each model were: XGBoost model (Accuracy = 0.84, ROC value = 0.73, Kappa = 0.43); Random Forest model (Accuracy = 0.81, ROC value = 0.70, Kappa = 0.41); SVM model (Accuracy = 0.76, ROC value = 0.69, Kappa = 0.40). The ROC value of the XGBoost model was highest (0.73), while the ROC value for the SVM model was lower (0.69). We observed that when CTCs were combined with clinicopathological parameters, the accuracy, kappa values, and AUC-ROC drastically improved in predicting the usefulness of adjuvant therapy post-surgery. A similar trend was observed when CTCs were combined with clinicopathological parameters in predicting the line of chemotherapy post-surgery. Conclusions ML-enabled, CTC-driven predictions can be highly accurate and ascertain the patient treatments. CTCs can be a positive predictor for selecting a patient’s treatment regimen in both surgery as well as in the type of treatment (e.g., surgery alone or surgery + adjuvant therapy). It can also be implicated to classify the patients and determine who necessitates additional adjuvant therapy. Further investigations in this direction are necessary to predict the treatment options based on ML that may improve the overall survival of 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