Table 1.

Technologies for isolation of CTCs

Underlying technology	Representative	Rationale platforms	Selected references
Antibody capture	Selection for EpCAM on tumor cells	Veridex/CellSearch	54–56
		Magsweeper	57
		Microfluidic CTC-Chip	59, 60, 110, 111
High-throughput imaging	Scanning of cells on slide	Epic	26, 38–41
Physical properties	Differential size, density, others	Physical filter	33–37
		Density gradient	42
		Dielectric	43, 44
		Photoacoustic	45, 46
		Microfluidic	47
Functional characteristics	Protein secretion, migratory properties	EPISPOT secretion assay	48–50
		Invasion assay	51–53
Leukocyte depletion	Negative depletion of leukocytes	Batch cell lysis	112–114
		Microfluidic CTC-iChip	28