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. 2014 Dec 16;6(4):2369–2386. doi: 10.3390/cancers6042369

Table 3.

Advantages and disadvantages of CTC detection approach.

Platform Rationale Advantages Disadvantages
Nucleic acid method Epithelial/Tumor/Tissue-specific antigen

  1. High sensitivity

  2. Small blood volume required

  3. Rapid

  1. Cells need to be lysed

  2. Low specificity

  3. CTC without Epithelial marker could not be detected
Flow cytometery Positive selection of Epithelial-specific antigen
Negative depletion of leukocytes

  1. Quantitative and multiparameter

  2. High specificity

  3. Potential to sort CTCs

  1. Limited sensitivity

  2. Requirement for large sample volume

  3. CTC without epithelial marker could not be detected
CellSearch (Veridex) Positive selection of EpCAM/CK
Negative depletion of CD45

  1. High sensitivity and specificity

  2. Highly reproducible

  3. Commercially available

  4. Only assay with FDA approval

 CTC without epithelial marker could not be detected
CTC Chip Positive selection of EpCAM/CK

  1. High sensitivity and specificity

  2. Potential to recover CTCs for additional characterization

 Technology is not commercially available