AUTOMATED ENUMERATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CIRCULATING MELANOMA CELLS IN BLOOD.

摘要

The CellTracksÂ(RTM) System provides a system to enumerate circulating melanoma cells in blood. The system immunomagnetically concentrates epithelial cells, fluorescently labels the cells and identifies and quantifies circulating melanoma cells. The absolute number of circulating melanoma cells detected in the peripheral blood tumor load is, in part, a factor in prediction of survival, time to progression, and response to therapy. Diagnosis and monitoring of melanoma has been limited by the inability to monitor circulating melanoma cells. The present invention provides a method to enumerate circulating melanoma cells in blood samples. Accordingly, this technology provides a means and device for monitoring disease progression in patients with melanoma.