Patent ID: 7687241
Filing Date: 2010-03-30
Classification: A61K,C12N,G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for removal of cancer cells from a blood fluid containing a mixed population of cancer and non-cancer cells, said fluid selected from the group consisting of whole blood, lymph, bone marrow, ascites or a combination thereof, said method comprising a) contacting said fluid with a cell-adhesion matrix coated with an adhesion molecule for a sufficient amount of time to permit the adherence of cancer cells to the cell-adhesion matrix, said matrix comprising a fibrous scaffold comprising type I collagen fibers, type III collagen fibers, fibrin, cotton fibers, tissue fragment, or plastic fibers; b) incubating the mixed population of cells for a time sufficient to allow said cancer cells to ingest the matrix; and c) isolating said cancer cells that ingested the matrix from cells that did not ingest the matrix, wherein said isolating step has a level of sensitivity of one viable cancer cell per ml of blood fluid.