TABLE 2.
List of biophysical property enrichment methods for CTC detection and isolation in melanoma.
| Methods | Platform | Description | Advantages | Disadvantages | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Membrane filtration | Flexible Micro Spring Array (FMSA) | Filtration system made of round pores and flexible micro-spring structures | Very fast Isolation of viable CTCs High capture efficiency |
Low sample purity Filter clogging |
Harouaka et al. (2014) |
| ScreenCell Cyto | Filter-based size-exclusion separation and enrichment of fixed or live CTCs | Rapid processing High recovery rate |
Low sample purity Filter clogging |
Desitter et al. (2011), Wechsler et al. (2012) | |
| Isolation by Size of Epithelial Tumor Cells (ISET) | Filter-based (size-/deformability exclusion separation) with 8 μm diameter cylindrical pores | Easy and rapid processing High sensitivity Isolation of EpCAM-negative CTCs Allows multiplexing |
May miss cells < 8 μm in size Low recovery and purity Risk of false negatives due to the morphological variability of CTCs |
Farace et al. (2011), Vona et al. (2000), De Giorgi et al. (2010a) | |
| Size-based microfluidics | Parsortix Cell Separation System | Isolation of CTCs based on size and deformability | FDA approved*
Isolation of viable CTCs |
Low specificity and recovery rate | Miller et al. (2018), Aya-Bonilla et al. (2020), |
| ClearCell FX1 System | Microfluidic separation based on centrifugal force and size of CTCs (≥14 μm diameter) | Isolation of viable CTCs Short processing time |
Less efficient for small CTCs | Aya-Bonilla et al. (2020), Hou H. W. et al. (2013) | |
| VTX-1 Liquid Biopsy System | Isolation based on size, shape, and deformability using inertial microfluidics and laminar vortices | Automated isolation of viable CTCs High recovery rate |
Low specificity and sample purity Risk of false negatives |
Sollier-Christen et al. (2018), Martel et al. (2023) | |
| Density-based methods | OncoQuick | Combined density-based gradient centrifugation and filtration | Rapid and cheap method Prevention of mixing cells Isolation of viable cells |
Relatively low yield and enrichment | Rosenberg et al. (2002), Muller et al. (2005) |
| Dielectophoresis | DEP Microwell Array System | Capture of single CTCs through a high-density dielectrophoretic microwell array technology | High detection rate and high sensitivity | Expensive Potential cell damage |
Morimoto et al. (2015), Kiniwa et al. (2021) |
*
for metastatic breast cancer.