Veridex, Lcc

Pfizer Corporation

Pfizer Products Inc.

Madeline I Repollet

Leon W M M Terstappen

Galla Chandra Rao

Shawn Mark O'Hara

Herman Rutner

Steven Gross

Christopher Larson

Antonio Gualberto

Mark Carle Connelly

Carrie L Melvin

David Chianese

Maria Luisa Paccagnella

Leonardus Wendelinus Mathias Marie Terstappen

Methods for the detection, enumeration and analysis of circulating tumor cells expressing insulin-like growth factor-1 receptors (IGF-1R) are disclosed. These methods are useful for cancer screening and staging, development of treatment regimens, and for monitoring for treatment responses, cancer recurrence or the like. Test kits that facilitate the detection, enumeration and analysis of such circulating tumor cells are also provided.

Circulating tumor cell assay

The methods and reagents described in this invention are used to analyze circulating tumor cells, clusters, fragments, and debris. Analysis is performed with a number of platforms, including flow cytometry and the CELLSPOTTER&#xae; fluorescent microscopy imaging system. Analyzing damaged cells has shown to be important. However, there are two sources of damage: in vivo and in vitro. Damage in vivo occurs by apoptosis, necrosis, or immune response. Damage in vitro occurs during sample acquisition, handling, transport, processing, or analysis. It is therefore desirable to confine, reduce, eliminate, or at least qualify in vitro damage to prevent it from interfering in analysis. Described herein are methods to diagnose, monitor, and screen disease based on circulating rare cells, including malignancy as determined by CTC, clusters, fragments, and debris. Also provided are kits for assaying biological specimens using these methods.

Analysis of circulating tumor cells, fragments, and debris

The methods and reagents described in this invention are used to analyze circulating tumor cells, clusters, fragments, and debris. Analysis is performed with a number of platforms, including flow cytometry and the CellSpotter&#xae; fluorescent microscopy imaging system. Analyzing damaged cells has shown to be important. However, there are two sources of damage: in vivo and in vitro. Damage in vivo occurs by apoptosis, necrosis, or immune response. Damage in vitro occurs during sample acquisition, handling, transport, processing, or analysis. It is therefore desirable to confine, reduce, eliminate, or at least qualify in vitro damage to prevent it from interfering in analysis. Described herein are methods to diagnose, monitor, and screen disease based on circulating rare cells, including malignancy as determined by CTC, clusters, fragments, and debris. Also provided are kits for assaying biological specimens using these methods.

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Fort Washington, PA, United States of America

Madeline I Repollet