Cell culture
AssigneeNational University of Singapore
InventorsBee Luan Khoo, Chwee Teck Lim, Gianluca Grenci
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Abstract
The disclosure relates to the enrichment and expansion of rare cells in blood such as circulating tumor cells (CTCs), cancer stem cells [CSCs] and other rare circulating cells. The microwells promote interactions between patient-derived CTCs and blood cells, allowing expansion of CTCs without the need for pre-enrichment or additional growth supplements. The cultured cells can be selected for propagation from single cells and have utility in drug screening, diagnostics and prognostics. The disclosure also includes a system comprising a cell enrichment device for enriching CTCs and CSCs and a device adapted to co-operate with the cell enrichment device to allow the testing of one or more agents, for example therapeutic or diagnostic agents.
Claims36
A cell culture substrate for use in enriching and culturing of circulating tumour cells (CTCs) or tumour associated cells, comprising:
- a cell culture surface comprising a plurality of microwells dimensioned to select for CTCs or tumour associated cells in a blood sample isolated from a subject, wherein the CTCs or tumour associated cells are preferentially enriched from non-tumour cells contained in said blood sample based on differential proliferation.
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