Multiparameter flow cytometric detection and analysis of rare cells in in vivo models of cancer metastasis

Abstract

Rapid and reliable circulating tumor cell (CTC) and disseminated tumor cell (DTC) detection forms a major underpinning of rigorous in vivo metastasis research. While many cancer cells initiate metastasis, very few can complete it. Clinical data evidences that each successive step of metastatic cascade presents increasing barriers to metastatic success, limiting the number of successful metastatic cells to fewer than 1 in 1,500,000,000. As such, it is critical to employ metastasis research approaches that allow scientists to discern which step(s) of the cascade present metastatic barriers to their model systems, and in which steps their model systems might display competency. Here, we present a novel flow-cytometry based method that allows for the simultaneous comparison of multiple steps of the cascade within one model system via the co-identification of CTC and DTCs from single animals. This approach is not only highly reliable and reproducible, but also broadly applicable and highly adaptable to a wide range of scientific inquiries.