Patent ID: 8357491

Claim:
A method for detecting gene expression in a single isolated solid tumor cell having a surface marker phenotype selected from the group consisting of: (a) B38.1 + CD24 + ; (b) B38.1 + LINEAGE − ; (c) B38.1 + CD24 + LINEAGE − ; (d) CD44 + CD24 + ; (e) CD44 + CD24 + LINEAGE − ; (f) B38.1 + CD24 − ; (g) B38.1 + CD24 − LINEAGE − ; (h) HER2 + B38.1 + CD24 − LINEAGE − ; (i) EGFR − B38.1 + CD24 − LINEAGE − ; (j) CD44 + CD24 −/lo ; and (k) CD44 + CD24 −/lo LINEAGE − . said method comprising: (a) isolating the single solid tumor cell from a solid tumor of epithelial origin; (b) amplifying a transcript produced by said cell; and (c) detecting the presence of said amplified transcript