Posters –
Immunology and Oncology
NAME OF THE PROJECT
NAME OF THE MAIN CONTACT
ORGANISATION NAME
Capture of circulating cancer cells (CTC)
Claire Métais
Toulouse Tech Transfer
During cancerogenesis, a very small number of circulating tumor cells disseminate out
from the primary tumor and migrate within the bloodstream. CTCs are biomarkers of
interest of high diagnostic value. However, their rareness in a complex media such as
blood renders their detection a true challenge.
The technology is a device for the intravascular capture of cancer-related cells. The
capture based on physical traits (size, deformability), irrespective of membrane antigens
targeted by other immunologic systems.
Technology
Customers / Target market
Industry and competitors
Advantages:
In vivo capture
Compatible with medical catheter
Capture possible at every point of the circulatory system
Point of care device compatible for use as a clinical routine test
No need for CTC marking
Allows the numeration, characterization and re-culturing of the selectively
captured cells
Fine, accurate and early stage detection due to the volume of blood filtered
Cancer diagnostic, surveillance and prognostic
There is only one in vivo competitive solution on the market: GILUPI. This method is
based on cell chemical recognition, allowing in vivo cancer cell capture using antibodies.
However this technology is complex to implement, requiring specific antibodies synthesis
and grafting on a sensor. Moreover, it does not allow filtering all CTCs as only a part of
them link to these antibodies. Consequently, the technology does respond to all clinical
issues.
Other techniques have been published these are in vitro methods requiring important
blood sampling. In vivo filtering allows finer detection and an earlier stage diagnostic. Our
technology frees from existing technologies limitations. This technique does not require
chemical marking. The size filter is easy to implement and retains all CTCs present in the
blood. Furthermore, all CTS can be retrieved for further analyses and research purposes.
Financing need / Commercial
opportunity
IP – Patent situation
Future steps / Milestones
Collaboration and license agreements
French patent application filed on 2nd of February 2015
Industrialization of the medical device
Further reading
N/A
Contact person
Claire Métais, Business developer, Toulouse Tech Transfer, metais@toulouse-techtransfer.com