Hi "Cancer Fellows",I...

Hi "Cancer Fellows", I changed to cancer research via my previous work on circulating fetal cells (rare cell analysis) for the purpose of non-invasive prenatal diagnosis (NIPD). Meanwhile the field of NIPD was taken over by the analysis of cell-free fetal DNA. However, I'm not too sad leaving NIPD research as it is associated with a lot of really difficult ethical questions. During the recent years I focused/worked on enrichment techniques of "rare" cells and their molecular (genetic) analysis at the single-cell level. This expertise is now helpful when trying to characterize circulating tumor cells, my current topic. For my current project I'm teaming up with single-cell experts (single-cell RT-qPCR) in Gothenburg/Sweden. Two companies will assist the molecular characterisation of CTCs: TATAA (cancer gene expression panels) and Gilupi (in vivo enrichment device). Combining single-cell analysis by means of DNA/RNA/protein (multi-analyte) with in vivo enrichment of CTCs using a wire (functionalized with antibodies against EpCAM) should pave the way for characterizing CTCs. But, as always, there is quite some work ahead... So, what do you think about CTC analysis?