Optimization of ferrofluids and protocols for the enrichment of breast tumor cells in blood

Immune-magnetic selection of rare cells in blood has been optimized by increasing the magnetic loading of target cells and reducing the non-specific binding to non-target cells. Recovery of tumor cells spiked into normal blood ranged from 60 to 90% and is linear over a range of 1-200cells/ml. Tumor cells were found in peripheral blood of breast cancer patients and their numbers increase with disease progression. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.