Removal of Circulating Tumor Cells from Blood Samples of Cancer Patients Using Highly Magnetic Nanoparticles: A Translational Research Project

The count of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) has been associated with a worse prognosis in different types of cancer. Perioperatively, CTCs detach due to mechanical forces. Diagnostic tools exist to detect and isolate CTCs, but no therapeutic technique is currently available to remove CTCs in vivo fr...

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Published in:Pharmaceutics 2022-07, Vol.14 (7), p.1397
Main Authors: Doswald, Simon, Herzog, Antoine F., Zeltner, Martin, Zabel, Anja, Pregernig, Andreas, Schläpfer, Martin, Siebenhüner, Alexander, Stark, Wendelin J., Beck-Schimmer, Beatrice
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antibodies
blood purification
Cancer
circulating tumor cells
Ethics
Experiments
Metastasis
Nanoparticles
Polymers
Surgery
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Summary:The count of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) has been associated with a worse prognosis in different types of cancer. Perioperatively, CTCs detach due to mechanical forces. Diagnostic tools exist to detect and isolate CTCs, but no therapeutic technique is currently available to remove CTCs in vivo from unprocessed blood. The aim of this study was to design and test new magnetic nanoparticles to purify whole blood from CTCs. Novel magnetic carbon-coated cobalt (C/Co) nanoparticles conjugated with anti-epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) antibodies were synthesized, and their antifouling and separation properties were determined. The newly developed C/Co nanoparticles showed excellent separation and antifouling properties. They efficiently removed tumor cells that were added to healthy subjects’ blood samples, through an anti-EpCAM antibody interaction. The nanoparticles did not interact with other blood components, such as lymphocytes or the coagulation system. In blood samples of carcinoma patients suffering from metastatic disease, on average, ≥68% of CTCs were removed. These nanoparticles could prompt the development of a blood purification technology, such as a dialysis-like device, to perioperatively remove CTCs from the blood of cancer patients in vivo and potentially improve their prognosis.
ISSN:1999-4923
1999-4923
DOI:10.3390/pharmaceutics14071397