CANCER DIAGNOSIS EMPLOYING CELL-SORTING AND GENE-PROFILES

摘要

Methods for separating living neoplastic cells from dead cells in a tumor sample, using a "vital stain" (e.g. propidium iodide) are provided. These methods are useful for prognosis, diagnosis, assessment of staging and disease progression in human cancer patients. The first method is a generic method involving antibodies that specifically bind neoplastic cells. The second method is a specific method to test the resistance of neoplastic cells to cytotoxic compounds using antibodies against a discrimination compound for apoptotic cells (e.g. Annexin V). The second method also determines the gene profile after cell sorting using a hybridisation array. The difference in gene expression between drug resistant and drug sensitive tumor cells can thus be employed to make clinical decisions.