Methods and reagents for the rapid and efficient isolation of circulating cancer cells
First Claim
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1. A method for determining likelihood of cancer recurrence in a human subject previously treated for cancer, comprising:
- a) obtaining a blood sample from said subject;
b) determining the number of epithelial cells in said sample;
c) comparing the number of epithelial cells with a statistically determined number of epithelial cells from a group of tumor-free patient controls; and
d) assigning a likelihood of cancer recurrence when the number of epithelial cells exceeds a pre-determined value based on statistical averages of circulating epithelial cells from healthy subjects compared with statistical averages of circulating epithelial cells from cancer patients.
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Abstract
A highly sensitive assay is disclosed which combines immunomagnetic enrichment with multiparameter flow cytometric and immunocytochemical analysis to detect, enumerate and characterize carcinoma cells in the blood. The assay can detect one epithelial cell or less in 1 ml of blood and has a greater sensitivity than conventional PCR or immunohistochemistry by 1-2 orders of magnitude. In addition, the assay facilitates the biological characterization and staging of carcinoma cells.
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11 Claims
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1. A method for determining likelihood of cancer recurrence in a human subject previously treated for cancer, comprising:
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a) obtaining a blood sample from said subject;
b) determining the number of epithelial cells in said sample;
c) comparing the number of epithelial cells with a statistically determined number of epithelial cells from a group of tumor-free patient controls; and
d) assigning a likelihood of cancer recurrence when the number of epithelial cells exceeds a pre-determined value based on statistical averages of circulating epithelial cells from healthy subjects compared with statistical averages of circulating epithelial cells from cancer patients. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of distinguishing an organ confined carcinoma from a carcinoma with metastatic properties, comprising:
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a) obtaining a blood sample from a test subject;
b) determining the number of circulating epithelial cells in said sample;
c) identifying the tissue origin of the epithelial cells;
d) comparing the number of circulating tissue specific epithelial cells determined for said test subject with a statistically determined average number of circulating tissue specific epithelial cells from a group of healthy subjects, a group of organ-confined carcinoma patients and a group of patients with metastatic carcinoma; and
e) identifying said human test subject cells as metastatic when the number is within the statistically determined average for the group of patients with metastatic carcinoma. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of following remission status in a human cancer patient undergoing cancer therapy treatment, comprising:
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a) obtaining a blood sample from a human cancer patient;
b) determining the number of circulating epithelial cells in said sample prior to and periodically subsequent to said cancer therapy treatment wherein an increase over time in the number of epithelial cells following treatment compared to the number of epithelial cells just after treatment is indicative of relapse and wherein maintenance of epithelial cell levels comparable to levels just after treatment is indicative of continuing remission. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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Specification