CIRCULATING TUMOR CELLS (CTC’S): APOPTOTIC ASSESSMENT IN PROSTATE CANCER PATIENTS

摘要

A method for detecting and enumerating apoptotic cancer cells in a mixed cell population by obtaining a biological specimen, the presence of said cancer cells in said population being indicative of a diseases state, is provided. The method comprises obtaining a biological specimen from a test subject, said specimen comprising a mixed cell population suspected of containing said cancer cells; preparing an immunomagnetic sample wherein said specimen is mixed with magnetic particles coupled to a biospecific ligand which reacts specifically with said cancer cells, to the substantial exclusion of other sample components; contacting said immunomagnetic sample with at least one biospecific reagent which labels said cancer cells; and characterizing said cancer cells into one or more apoptotic states from the group consisting of enzymatic analysis, biochemical analysis, morphological analysis and combination thereof, the presence and number of said apoptotic state being indicative of said disease state.