METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING SUBGROUPS OF CIRCULATING TUMOR CELLS (CTCS) IN THE CTC POPULATION OF A BIOLOGICAL SAMPLE

摘要

The invention relates to a method for identifying and characterizing subpopulations (subgroups) of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in a population of CTCs or a sample. The invention also relates to the quantification of the respective subgroups of CTCs in the population of CTCs or the sample. The invention further relates to the use of the method for diagnosis and monitoring of cancer, treatment and prognosis, in particular for solid tumors. The invention further relates to the use of the identified CTC subgroups as biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic treatment. In addition, the invention relates to diagnostic devices and test kits for application of the method of the invention.