Isolation of rare circulating tumor cells

Project Information

CTC-MAL

Grant agreement ID: 766544

DOI

10.3030/766544

Project closed

EC signature date 19 January 2018

Start date 1 February 2018

End date 31 January 2019

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)

Total cost

€ 149 375,00

EU contribution

€ 149 375,00

Coordinated by

KOBENHAVNS UNIVERSITET
Denmark

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - CTC-MAL (Isolation of rare circulating tumor cells)

Reporting period: 2018-02-01 to 2019-01-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Around 90% of cancer-related deaths are caused by metastases. Metastatic spread involves dissemination of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from the primary tumor via the blood circulation to the metastatic site. Several studies have shown a correlation between the number of CTCs and a poor survival in different cancer types including metastatic breast-, prostate-, colorectal- and lung cancer, indicating that the number of CTCs in blood can be used as a prognostic marker. Recent data suggest that CTCs are already shed from premalignant lesions and that open the possibility of using CTC detection for early diagnosis of cancer. However most CTC methods struggle to reach the sensitivity needed for early detection, as it is a technical challenge to detect only a few malignant cells among billions of normal blood cells.
We have developed a powerful tool which, superior to any other method captures and enables enumeration and characterization of rare circulating tumor cells (CTCs). The aim of the ERC PoC project was to A) prepare for establishment of a separate company with a strategic product plan and B) further develop and validate the methodology enabling cancer diagnosis, prognosis and guidance of treatment. During the project we have established VARCT Diagnostics as a sister company to VAR2Pharmaceuticals through an exclusive license to the CTC technology. A solid business plan has been developed in collaboration with consultancies We have developed the technology into being platform independant, ie now with a simple magnet we can effectively capture circulating tumor cells and we have provided further clinical proof of concept.