System and method to detect, enumerate and characterize circulating tumor cells

A method of performing circulating tumor cell (CTC) analysis, the method comprising:

• flowing a sample through a CTC microfluidic platform, wherein the flowing comprising passing the sample through at least one channel of the CTC microfluidic platform having a constricted section, wherein the CTC microfluidic platform comprises:
• an inlet and an outlet formed on the at least one channel;
• a nanostrain sensor between the inlet and the outlet and operable to contact the sample flowing through the at least one channel, the nanostrain sensor comprising:
• a first layer;
• a metallic layer;
• a second layer;
• and a substrate;
• and a reflective digital holographic microscopic interferometry (DHMI) system;
• deforming a CTC within the sample;
• measuring CTC deformation through an imprint of the deformed CTC;
• processing data related to the measuring;
• and
• at least one of identifying or characterizing parameters related to the data that enables at least one of detection of CTCs, enumeration of CTCs in the sample, characterization of biophysical properties, CTC cell size, CTC cell membrane deformability, stresses on CTC cell membranes, adhesion stress on CTC cells, normal stress of CTC cells, or combinations thereof.