DETECTION OF PROSTATE SPECIFIC MEMBRANE ANTIGEN (PSMA) EXPRESSION ON CIRCULATING TUMOR CELLS (CTC)

摘要

The disclosure provides a method for detecting prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) on circulating tumor cells (CTCs) obtained from a patient afflicted with prostate cancer comprising (a) performing a direct analysis comprising immunofluorescent staining and morphological characterization of nucleated cells in a blood sample obtained from the patient to detect circulating tumor cells (CTC), and (b) determining the number of CTCs expressing PSMA. The disclosure also provides a provides a method for identifying a patient afflicted with prostate cancer as a candidate for PSMA targeted therapy comprising (a) performing a direct analysis comprising immunofluorescent staining and morphological characterization of nucleated cells in a blood sample obtained from the patient to detect circulating tumor cells (CTC), (b) determining prevalence of a CTC subpopulation expressing PSMA, and (c) comparing the prevalence of the CTC subpopulation expressing PSMA to a reference value, wherein the prevalence of the CTC subpopulation expressing PSMA above the reference value identifies the patient as a candidate for PSMA targeted therapy. The disclosure further provides a provides a method for predicting resistance to androgen receptor (AR) targeted therapy a patient afflicted with prostate cancer comprising (a) performing a direct analysis comprising immunofluorescent staining and morphological characterization of nucleated cells in a blood sample obtained from the patient to detect circulating tumor cells (CTC), (b) determining prevalence of a CTC subpopulation expressing PSMA, and (c) comparing the prevalence of the CTC subpopulation expressing PSMA to a reference value, wherein the prevalence of the CTC subpopulation expressing PSMA above the reference value is indicative of resistance to androgen receptor (AR) targeted therapy.