Leading Experts in the Field of Circulating Tumor Cell Isolation Present WaveSense’ EpiSep XRC™, Technology at the 5th Annual International Symposium on Minimal Residual Cancer (ISMRC)

Dr. Oystein Fodstad and Dr. Hanne Kleppe Hoifodt presented a novel method for direct detection and characterization of circulating micrometastatic cells in bone marrow and peripheral blood samples at the ISMRC in San Francisco. The technique combines the use of the EpiSep XRC™, (Xenographic Retention Chromatography) and fluorescent microspheres technologies.

The concepts surrounding the diagnosis and treatment of various solid malignancies reflect some of the most critical challenges facing clinicians and researchers today. The ISMRC symposium is intended to address these issues by providing attendees from around the world with an overview of new detection methods, treatment paradigms, and relevance for cancer research applications.

The abstract from “A Novel Method for Direct Detection and Characterization of Circulating Tumor Cells Combining the use of EpiSep XRC™, (Xenographic Retention Chromathography) and Fluorescent Microsphere Technology” is as follows:

“Several methods to study the presence of circulating, micrometastatic cells in bone marrow and peripheral blood samples and its relationship to the clinical status of patients with solid cancer have been described. However, all reported methods have limitations regarding specificity, sensitivity and standardization. We have developed a new approach by combining the advantages of the new EpiSep XRC technology with our previously described fluorescent microsphere method. The method is based on the use of immunomagnetic beads coated with specific antibodies for enrichment of the target cells present in a mononuclear cell fraction, transferring the cell suspension onto a magnetic target cell capture area on the EpiSep slide (a microscope slide based test strip) by a lateral flow. Non-target cells and unbound fluorescent microspheres are absorbed by absorbent pads contained in the EpiSep slide. In this system we used simultaneously 2-4 types of non-magnetic small microspheres, containing different fluorophores, each type coated with an antibody known to bind known cell surface markers relevant for the cancer type studied. The detection of the target cells is greatly facilitated by the strong fluorescence obtained with the microspheres. This approach allowed confirmation of the nature of each individual target cell by demonstrating the expression of membrane markers, such as EGFR and erbB2. In addition, we were able to demonstrate expression of specific intracellular antigens, either by conventional immunofluoresence or by the binding of fluorescent microspheres inside the EpiSep cartridge. The method has been used in model experiments on cell lines with convincing sensitivity, reproducibility and ease of use, demonstrating the validity of the approach. We are at present applying the technology to peripheral blood and bone marrow samples from patients with ocular melanoma with several years of clinical follow-up. In summary, the approach provides a rapid and reproducible method for detection and characterization of circulating cancer cells and may easily be standardized for more wide-spread use in prognostication and in monitoring treatment effect, and also as a surrogate marker for response in early clinical development of new therapies.”

WaveSense, Inc. develops, manufactures, and commercializes leading-edge analytical nanotechnologies for use in the fields of clinical chemistry, biotechnology and drug discovery.

Dr. Oystein Fodstad and Dr. Hanne Kleppe Hoifodt are affiliated with the Dept. of Tumor Biology, The Norwegian Radium Hospital in Oslo, Norway, and Dr. Fodstad is also with the University of South Alabama, Cancer Research Institute in Mobile, AL. Dr.’s Fodstad and Hoifodt are regarded as world leading authorities in the field of magnetic capture and isolation of tumor cells. Professor Fodstad has recently agreed to become Chairman of WaveSense’s Scientific Advisory Board.

Contact:
Jeff Barbieri
WaveSense, Inc.
949-341-1980

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