Published online Jan 21, 2018. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v24.i3.351
Peer-review started: September 8, 2017
First decision: September 20, 2017
Revised: November 27, 2017
Accepted: December 4, 2017
Article in press: December 4, 2017
Published online: January 21, 2018
To compare the capacity of newly developed epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted immune magnetic liposomes (EILs) vs epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) immunomagnetic beads to capture colorectal circulating tumor cells (CTCs).
EILs were prepared using a two-step method, and the magnetic and surface characteristics were confirmed. The efficiency of capturing colorectal CTCs as well as the specificity were compared between EILs and EpCAM magnetic beads.
The obtained EILs had a lipid nanoparticle structure similar to cell membrane. Improved binding with cancer cells was seen in EILs compared with the method of coupling nano/microspheres with antibody. The binding increased as the contact time extended. Compared with EpCAM immunomagnetic beads, EILs captured more CTCs in peripheral blood from colorectal cancer patients. The captured cells showed consistency with clinical diagnosis and pathology. Mutation analysis showed same results between captured CTCs and cancer tissues.
EGFR antibody-coated magnetic liposomes show high efficiency and specificity in capturing colorectal CTCs.
Core tip: Epidermal growth factor receptor-targeted immune magnetic liposomes (EILs) were prepared by a two-step method. The binding with capturing tumor cells (CTCs) in peripheral blood from colorectal cancer patients was compared between EILs and epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) immunomagnetic beads. We found that EILs captured more CTCs than EpCAM immunomagnetic beads with a higher efficiency and specificity.