Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are associated with cancer metastasis and prognosis but their scarcity in whole blood prevents their use as a diagnostic tool. The purpose of the present study was to establish a novel approach to capture and cultivate CTCs using a microfilter device. The present study was a prospective study of patients with pancreatic cancer at the University of Tsukuba Hospital (Tsukuba, Japan). From each patient, 5 ml of whole blood was collected into an EDTA collection tube. Whole blood was filtered to isolate CTCs and cells captured on the microfilter were cultured in place. A total of 15 patients were enrolled. CTCs and/or CTC clusters were detected in 2 of 6 cases on day 0. In all cases, CTCs and/or formed clusters and/or colonies were observed during long‑term culture periods of up to 103 days. In samples where CTCs were not immediately evident, CTC clusters and colonies emerged after long‑term culture. To confirm activity of the cultured CTCs on the filters, staining with Calcein AM was performed and epithelial cellular adhesion molecule‑positive cells were observed. The system enables the capture and culture of CTCs. Cultured CTCs may be used for patient‑specific drug susceptibility testing and genomic profiling of cancer.
Keywords: circulating tumor cell; cluster; colony; microfilter device; pancreatic cancer.