NEW YORK – German firms Gilupi and Cellink subsidiary Scienion said on Thursday that they plan to extend an collaboration that started in 2018 on single circulating tumor cell (CTC) analysis.
Specifically, the firms plan to develop a workflow for CTC isolation directly from a patient's bloodstream and efficient decollation of the cells for single-cell downstream molecular analysis, such as next-generation sequencing, genotyping, or digital PCR. The results can be used to determine drug response and provide guidance on cancer therapy.
Gilupi, based in Potsdam, offers its CE-marked in vivo CellCollector, which enriches rare cells such as CTCs by immuno-capture directly in the patient's bloodstream. Users can then characterize and analyze the isolated cells with immunostaining, or with DNA- or RNA-based methods.
"We believe that molecular analysis of single CTCs is an important cornerstone of advanced and personalized cancer treatment," Christian Jurinke, CEO of Gilupi, said in a statement. "The technology of Scienion is very well suited to enable molecular profiling of CTCs on a single-cell level once they are isolated from their patients."
Berlin-based Scienion has developed proprietary ultra-low-volume handling technologies, including its CellenOne single-cell dispensing technology for low-volume isolation and dispensing.
The firms believe that a combination of both technologies will create a reliable and efficient workflow from patient to result.
"Efficient isolation of rare cells combined with highly accurate dispensing is the foundation for molecular profiling of metastasis-causing CTCs," Holger Eickhoff, CEO of Scienion, said in a statement. "Gilupi is one of the pioneers in enriching CTCs, and we see a strong synergy in combining both technologies."
Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.