Some of the currently available commercial systems for CTC detection and analysis, which were used with clinical samples

System nameDescriptionUseEnumeration/downstream analysis (DA)CertificationSome of the reported strengthsSome of the reported weaknessesRef.
CellCollector™Functionalized guidewireIn vivo

  • No enumeration

  • DA can be performed after.

Certified by CE and the NMPA

  • A large amount of blood is processed.

  • Well-tolerated (no adverse events)

  • Uncontrollable luminal positioning

  • Difference in blood circulation

  • Delicate/subjective result interpretation

  • Detects only EpCAM+ cells

[105]
CellSearch™Immunomagnetic capture and fluorescence imaging technologyEx vivo

  • Limited enumeration

  • Fluorescence imaging technology

  • DA not included (cell images)

FDA approval

  • A large number of studies

  • Gives quantitative results

  • Standard method

  • Result interpretation can be subjective.

  • Detects only EpCAM+ cells

[87, 114]
Parsortix® PC1Microfluidic cell-capturing cassetteEx vivo

  • DA not included

  • DA can be performed after.

FDA clearance

  • Label-independent

  • High capture efficiency

  • Viable cells are captured.

  • Cell clusters can be caught.

  • Need some optimization for optimal performance

  • No enumeration

[98, 104, 111]

CTC: circulating tumor cell; FDA: Federal Drug Administration; NMPA: National Medical Products Administration