CAPTURE, IDENTIFICATION AND USE OF A NEW BIOMARKER OF SOLID TUMORS IN BODY FLUIDS

Abstract

A new sensitive cell biomarker of solid tumors is identified in blood. This biomarker can be used to determine presence of solid tumors, rapid determination of treatment response, early detection of cancer, early detection of cancer recurrence, and may be used to determine therapy.

Description

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to identification of a biomarker in blood and other body fluids that can be used for detection of solid tumors and to monitor efficacy of chemotherapy and radiation therapy treatments. The present invention also relates to the use of the biomarker in combination with circulating tumor cells, free plasma and serum DNA cancer markers, cancer-associated protein markers and other biomarkers.

Related Art

When tumor cells break away from primary solid tumors, they penetrate into the blood or lymphatic circulation, and ultimately leave the blood stream and enter other organs or tissues to form metastasis. 90% of cancer-related deaths are caused by the metastatic process. The most common metastatic sites are the lung, liver, bone and brain. Tumor cells found in the circulation are called circulating tumor cells (CTCs). Many research publications and clinical trials show that CTCs have clinical utility (i) by providing prognostic survival and cancer recurrence information by counting the number of cells in the blood stream, and (ii) by providing treatment information by looking at protein expressions, gene mutations and translocations in the CTCs. However, CTCs cannot be found consistently, even in stage IV patients.

Some medical conditions may be diagnosed by detecting the presence of certain types of cells in bodily fluid. In particular, cells indicative or characteristic of certain medical conditions may be larger and/or less flexible than other cells found in certain bodily fluids. Accordingly, by collecting such larger and/or less flexible cells from a liquid sample of a bodily fluid, it may be possible to diagnose a medical condition based on the cells collected.

SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to and discloses a type of cell with special characteristics that is found in the blood of cancer patients. The cell type, termed “circulating Cancer Associated Macrophage-Like cell” (CAML), is described herein and shown to be associated with the presence of solid tumors in a patient. This cell type is shown by data presented herein to have clinical utility in that it can be used as a biomarker for a variety of medical applications. This cell type has been found consistently in the peripheral blood of stage I to stage IV solid cancers by microfiltration using precision microfilters.

CAMLs can be used as a biomarker to provide a diagnosis of cancer, in particular, an early detection of cancer, an early detection of cancer recurrence, and a determination of cancer mutation. CAMLs can also be used as a biomarker in determining appropriate courses of therapy, in particular, the cells can be used in a rapid determination of effectiveness of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, immunotherapy, vaccine therapy, targeted therapy, or any other cancer treatment.

CAMLS may be used independently as a cancer marker. Alternatively, CAMLS can be used together with CTCs, cell free DNAs, proteins and other biomarkers in body fluids to provide a more complete understanding of the patient's disease.

More specifically, and in a first embodiment, the present invention is directed to methods of screening a subject for cancer, comprising detecting circulating cancer associated macrophage-like cells (CAMLs) in a biological sample from a subject. In certain aspects, the detecting comprises (a) isolating intact cells of between 20 and 300 micron in size from a biological sample obtained from the subject, and (b) selecting multi-nucleated cells isolated in (a) expressing one or more of the following markers: endothelial cell markers CD146, CD202b, and CD31, and monocyte cell markers CD11c and CD14. In particular aspects, when CAMLs are detected in the biological sample, the subject is identified as potentially having a carcinoma or solid tumor. In other aspects, when CAMLs are detected in the biological sample, the subject is identified as having a carcinoma or solid tumor. In certain aspects, the methods encompassed by this embodiment also include detecting circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the biological sample. In particular aspects of this first embodiment, the subject is a subject suspected of having cancer.

In a second embodiment, the present invention is directed to methods for diagnosing cancer in a subject and/or confirming a diagnosis of cancer in a subject, comprising detecting CAMLs in a biological sample from a subject, wherein when CAMLs are detected in the biological sample, the subject is diagnosed with cancer. In relevant aspects, the biological sample is from a subject previously diagnosed with cancer. In certain aspects, the detecting comprises (a) isolating intact cells of between 20 and 300 micron in size from a biological sample obtained from a subject, and (b) selecting multi-nucleated cells isolated in (a) expressing one or more of the following markers: endothelial cell markers CD146, CD202b, and CD31, and monocyte cell markers CD11c and CD14. In certain aspects, the methods encompassed by this embodiment also include detecting CTCs in the biological sample, wherein when CAMLs and CTCs are detected in the biological sample, the subject is diagnosed with cancer.

In a third embodiment, the present invention is directed to methods for detecting recurrence of cancer in a subject, comprising detecting CAMLs in a biological sample from a subject previously treated for cancer or undergoing cancer treatment, wherein when CAMLs are detected in the biological sample, recurrence of cancer is detected. In certain aspects, the detecting comprises (a) isolating intact cells of between 20 and 300 micron in size from a biological sample obtained from a subject, and (b) selecting multi-nucleated cells isolated in (a) expressing one or more of the following markers: endothelial cell markers CD146, CD202b, and CD31, and monocyte cell markers CD11c and CD14. In certain aspects, the methods encompassed by this embodiment also include detecting CTCs in the biological sample, wherein when CAMLs and CTCs are detected in the biological sample, recurrence of cancer is detected.

In a fourth embodiment, the present invention is directed to methods for confirming a diagnosis of cancer in a subject, comprising detecting CAMLs in a biological sample from a subject diagnosed with cancer, wherein when CAMLs are detected in the biological sample, a diagnosis of cancer is confirmed in the subject. In certain aspects, the detecting comprises (a) isolating intact cells of between 20 and 300 micron in size from a biological sample obtained from a subject, and (b) selecting multi-nucleated cells isolated in (a) expressing one or more of the following markers: endothelial cell markers CD146, CD202b, and CD31, and monocyte cell markers CD11c and CD14. In certain aspects, the methods encompassed by this embodiment also include detecting CTCs in the biological sample, wherein when CAMLs and CTCs are detected in the biological sample, a diagnosis of cancer is confirmed in the subject. In particular aspects, the initial cancer diagnosis is via mammography such as with an initial diagnosis of breast cancer, PSA test such as with an initial diagnosis of prostate cancer, low dose CT such as with an initial diagnosis of lung cancer, or presence of CA125 such as with an initial diagnosis of ovarian cancer. In a particular aspect, the subject is suspected of having cancer.

In aspects of the first through fourth embodiments, CAMLs are detected in the biological sample using one or more means selected from the group consisting of size exclusion methodology, immunocapture, red blood cell lysis, white blood cell depletion, FICOLL separation, electrophoresis, dielectrophoresis, flow cytometry, magnetic levitation, and use of microfluidic chips, or a combination thereof.

In one aspect of the invention, circulating cells, such as CAMLs and/or CTCs, are detected in the biological samples using a size exclusion methodology that comprises use of a microfilter. The microfilter has pores, with pore sizes ranging from about 5 microns to about 20 microns. Suitable ranges of pore sizes also include, but are not limited to, pore sizes ranging from about 5-7 microns, 8-10 microns, 11-13 microns, 14-16 microns, 17-20 microns, 5-10 microns, 11-15 microns, 15-20 microns, 9-15 microns, 16-20 microns, and 9-20 microns. Another suitable range comprises pore sizes ranging from about 5-20 microns, but excluding pore of between 7 and 8 microns. The pores of the microfilter may have any shape, with acceptable shapes including round, race-track shape, oval, slit, square, rectangular and/or other shapes. The microfilter may have precision pore geometry, uniform pore distribution, more than one pore geometry, and/or non-uniform pore distribution. The microfilter may be single layer, or multi-layers with different shapes on different layers. Microfilters having round pores of about 7-8 microns in size are especially optimal when polymeric microfilters are used. In a preferred aspect, the microfilter has precision pore geometry and uniform pore distribution.

In certain aspects of the first through fourth embodiments, CAMLs and CTCs are simultaneously detected in the biological sample using a microfilter as defined above. Microfilters having round pores of about 7-8 microns in size are especially optimal when polymeric microfilters are used. In a preferred aspect, the microfilter has precision pore geometry and uniform pore distribution.

In certain aspects of the first through fourth embodiments, CAMLs are detected in the biological sample using a microfluidic chip based on physical size-based sorting, slits, channels, hydrodynamic size-based sorting, grouping, trapping, immunocapture, concentrating large cells, or eliminating small cells based on size.

In certain aspects of the first through fourth embodiments, CAMLs are detected in the biological sample using a CellSieve™ low-pressure microfiltration assay.

In aspects of the first through fourth embodiments, the biological sample is one or more selected from the group consisting of peripheral blood, blood, lymph nodes, bone marrow, cerebral spinal fluid, tissue, and urine. When the biological sample is blood, the blood may be antecubital-vein blood, inferior-vena-cava blood, femoral vein blood, portal vein blood, or jugular-vein blood, for example. The sample may be a fresh sample or a properly prepared cryo-preserved sample that is thawed.

In aspects of the first through fourth embodiments, the cancer is one or more of a solid tumor, Stage I cancer, Stage II cancer, Stage III cancer, Stage IV cancer, carcinoma, sarcoma, neuroblastoma, melanoma, epithelial cell cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer, head and neck cancer, kidney cancer, ovarian cancer, esophageal cancer or other solid tumor cancer.

In a fifth embodiment, the present invention is directed to methods for monitoring efficacy of a cancer treatment, comprising (a) determining the number of CAMLs in a biological sample from a subject before cancer treatment, and (b) comparing the number of CAMLs determined in (a) to a number of CAMLs determined from a similar biological sample from the same subject at one or more time points after treatment. In certain aspects, the number of CAMLs in a biological sample is determining by (a) isolating intact cells of between 20 and 300 micron in size from a biological sample obtained from the subject, and (b) selecting multi-nucleated cells isolated in (a) expressing one or more of the following markers: endothelial cell markers CD146, CD202b, and CD31, and monocyte cell markers CD11c and CD14. In certain aspects, the methods further comprise (c) determining the number of CTCs in the biological sample of (a), and (d) comparing the number of CTCs determined in (c) to a number of CTCs determined from the biological sample of (b).

In aspects of the fifth embodiment, a change in the number of CAMLs is an indication of treatment efficacy, where the change is an increase or a decrease in the number of CAMLs.

In aspects of the fifth embodiment, the cancer treatment is chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, immunotherapy, vaccine therapy, or any other cancer treatment.

In aspects of the fifth embodiment, the number of CAMLs is determined using one or more means selected from the group consisting of size exclusion methodology, immunocapture, red blood cell lysis, white blood cell depletion, FICOLL separation, electrophoresis, dielectrophoresis, flow cytometry, magnetic levitation, and use of microfluidic chips, or a combination thereof.

In one aspect of the invention, the number of circulating cells, such as CAMLs and/or CTCs, in the biological sample is determined using a size exclusion methodology that comprises use of a microfilter. The microfilter has pores, with pore sizes ranging from about 5 microns to about 20 microns. Suitable ranges of pore sizes also include, but are not limited to, pore sizes ranging from about 5-7 microns, 8-10 microns, 11-13 microns, 14-16 microns, 17-20 microns, 5-10 microns, 11-15 microns, 15-20 microns, 9-15 microns, 16-20 microns, and 9-20 microns. Another suitable range comprises pore sizes ranging from about 5-20 microns, but excluding pore of between 7 and 8 microns. The pores of the microfilter may have any shape, with acceptable shapes including round, race-track shape, oval, slit, square, rectangular and/or other shapes. The microfilter may have precision pore geometry, uniform pore distribution, more than one pore geometry, and/or non-uniform pore distribution. The microfilter may be single layer, or multi-layers with different shapes on different layers. In another aspect, the number of CAMLs and/or CTCs in the biological sample is determined using a microfluidic chip based on physical size-based sorting, slits, channels, hydrodynamic size-based sorting, grouping, trapping, immunocapture, concentrating large cells, or eliminating small cells based on size, or a combination thereof.

In a further aspect of the invention, the number of circulating cells in the biological sample, such as CAMLs and/or CTCs, is determined using a CellSieve™ low-pressure microfiltration assay.

In certain aspects of the fifth embodiment, the numbers of CAMLs and CTCs in the biological sample are determined simultaneously using a microfilter as defined above. Microfilters having round pores of about 7-8 microns in size are especially optimal when polymeric microfilters are used. In a preferred aspect, the microfilter has precision pore geometry and uniform pore distribution.

In aspects of the fifth embodiment, the biological sample is one or more selected from the group consisting of peripheral blood, blood, lymph nodes, bone marrow, cerebral spinal fluid, tissue or urine. In a preferred aspect, the biological sample is peripheral blood. In other aspects, the blood is antecubital-vein blood, inferior-vena-cava blood, femoral vein blood, portal vein blood, or jugular-vein blood, for example. The sample may be a fresh sample or a properly prepared cryo-preserved sample that is thawed.

In aspects of the fifth embodiment, the cancer is one or more of a solid tumor, Stage I cancer, Stage II cancer, Stage III cancer, Stage IV cancer, carcinoma, sarcoma, neuroblastoma, melanoma, epithelial cell cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer, head and neck cancer, kidney cancer, ovarian cancer, esophageal cancer or other solid tumor cancer.

In a sixth embodiment, the present invention is directed to an isolated circulating cancer associated macrophage-like cell (CAML), wherein the cells can be defined as having each of the following characteristics:

• • (a) large atypical polyploid nucleus of about 14-64 μm in size, or multiple nuclei in a single cell;
  • (b) cell size of about 20-300 μm in size; and
  • (c) morphological shape selected from the group consisting of spindle, tadpole, round, oblong, two legs, more than two legs, thin legs, and amorphous.

In certain aspects, the CAMLs can be further defined as having one or more of the following additional characteristics:

• • (d) CD14 positive phenotype;
  • (e) CD45 expression;
  • (f) EpCAM expression;
  • (g) vimentin expression;
  • (h) PD-L1 expression;
  • (i) CD11C marker expression;
  • (j) CD146 marker expression;
  • (k) CD202b marker expression;
  • (l) CD31 marker expression;
  • (m) markers associated with cancer; and
  • (n) CK8, 18, 19 epithelial phenotype.

In one aspect of this embodiment, the CAMLs have one or more of the following additional characteristics: expression of one or more markers of a primary tumor. The noted markers can be detected using various means known to the skilled artisan, for example, antibodies having binding specificity for particular markers can be used to select cells expressing one or more markers.

In a seventh embodiment, the present invention is directed to method for detecting CAMLs in a biological sample from a subject, comprising (a) isolating intact cells of between 20 and 300 micron in size from a biological sample obtained from a subject, and (b) detecting multi-nucleated cells isolated in (a) that express one or more of the following markers: endothelial cell markers CD146, CD202b, and CD31, and monocyte cell markers CD11c and CD14. In certain aspects, the subject has cancer. In certain aspects, the cancer is carcinoma or solid tumor. In certain aspects, the method further comprising detecting CTCs in the biological sample. In certain aspects, the cells are isolated in (a) using a means selected from the group consisting of size exclusion methodology, immunocapture, red blood cell lysis, white blood cell depletion, FICOLL separation, electrophoresis, dielectrophoresis, flow cytometry, magnetic levitation, and use of microfluidic chips, or a combination thereof.

In one aspect of the invention, the number of circulating cells, such as CAMLs and/or CTCs, in the biological sample is determined using a size exclusion methodology that comprises use of a microfilter. The microfilter has pores, with pore sizes ranging from about 5 microns to about 20 microns. Suitable ranges of pore sizes also include, but are not limited to, pore sizes ranging from about 5-7 microns, 8-10 microns, 11-13 microns, 14-16 microns, 17-20 microns, 5-10 microns, 11-15 microns, 15-20 microns, 9-15 microns, 16-20 microns, and 9-20 microns. Another suitable range comprises pore sizes ranging from about 5-20 microns, but excluding pore of between 7 and 8 microns. The pores of the microfilter may have any shape, with acceptable shapes including round, race-track shape, oval, slit, square, rectangular and/or other shapes. The microfilter may have precision pore geometry, uniform pore distribution, more than one pore geometry, and/or non-uniform pore distribution. The microfilter may be single layer, or multi-layers with different shapes on different layers. In another aspect, the number of CAMLs and/or CTCs in the biological sample is determined using a microfluidic chip based on physical size-based sorting, slits, channels, hydrodynamic size-based sorting, grouping, trapping, immunocapture, concentrating large cells, or eliminating small cells based on size, or a combination thereof.

In a further aspect of the invention, the number of circulating cells in the biological sample, such as CAMLs and/or CTCs, is determined using a CellSieve™ low-pressure microfiltration assay.

In aspects of the seventh embodiment, the biological sample is one or more selected from the group consisting of peripheral blood, blood, lymph nodes, bone marrow, cerebral spinal fluid, tissue or urine. In a preferred aspect, the biological sample is peripheral blood. In other aspects, the blood is antecubital-vein blood, inferior-vena-cava blood, femoral vein blood, portal vein blood, or jugular-vein blood, for example. The sample may be a fresh sample or a properly prepared cryo-preserved sample that is thawed.

In an eighth embodiment, the present invention is directed to an isolated pathologically-definable circulating tumor cell (CTC), wherein the cell has one or more of the following characteristics: (a) cancer-like nucleus; (b) expression of one or more of cytokeratin 8, 18 and 19, and wherein the cytokeratins have filamentous pattern; and (c) CD45 negative phenotype.

In an ninth embodiment, the present invention is directed to an isolated apoptotic circulating tumor cell (CTC), wherein the cell has one or more of the following characteristics: (a) cancer-like nucleus, or a nucleus undergoing degradation; (b) expression of one or more of cytokeratin 8, 18 and 19, and wherein the cytokeratin is fragmented in the form of spots; and (c) CD45 negative phenotype.

The subjects mentioned in the methods of the present invention will be a human, a non-human primate, bird, horse, cow, goat, sheep, a companion animal, such as a dog, cat or rodent, or other mammal.

In certain aspects of the embodiments of the invention, the size of the biological sample, such as a blood sample, is between 0.1 and 50 mL.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.

A more complete appreciation of the present invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows circulating tumor cells found in blood of cancer patients including (A) a pathologically-definable prostate cancer CTC expressing well-defined EpCAM, (B) a pathologically-definable prostate cancer CTC expressing very low or no EpCAM, (C) a pathologically-definable breast cancer CTC expressing well-defined EpCAM, and (D) a pathologically-definable breast cancer CTC expressing very low or no EpCAM. The merged images are generated by DAPI, CK 8, 18 & 19, EpCAM and CD45 staining.

FIG. 2 shows apoptotic circulating tumor cells found in blood of cancer patients including apoptotic breast cancer CTCs expressing very low or no EpCAM at early (A) and mid-stages (B) of apoptosis, and prostate cancer CTCs at mid stage of apoptosis expressing high (C) and low (D) EpCAM, respectively. The merged images are generated by DAPI, CK 8, 18 & 19, EpCAM and CD45 staining.

FIG. 3 shows a circulating cancer associated macrophage-like cell (CAML) found in the blood of cancer patients. This merged image is generated by DAPI, CK 8, 18 & 19, EpCAM and CD45 staining.

FIG. 4 shows a circulating cancer associated macrophage-like cell found in the blood of cancer patients. This merged image is generated by DAPI, CK 8, 18 & 19, EpCAM and CD45 staining.

FIG. 5 shows a circulating cancer associated macrophage-like cell found in the blood of cancer patients. This merged image is generated by DAPI, CK 8, 18 & 19, EpCAM and CD45 staining.

FIG. 6 shows a circulating cancer associated macrophage-like cell found in the blood of cancer patients. This merged image is generated by DAPI, CK 8, 18 & 19, EpCAM and CD45 staining.

FIG. 7 shows a gallery of circulating cancer associated macrophage-like cells found in the blood of cancer patients including breast cancer patients (B, C, D), pancreatic cancer patients (A, F, G), and prostate cancer patients (E, H, I). These merged images are generated by DAPI, CK 8, 18 & 19, EpCAM and CD45 staining.

FIGS. 8A-8I show the expression of separate CK 8, 18, 19, EpCAM and CD45, and the nucleus, and the merged image of each of the cells in FIG. 7. FIGS. 8B, 8C and 8D are from breast cancer patients. FIGS. 8A, 8F and 8G are from pancreatic cancer patients. FIGS. 8E, 8H and 8I are from prostate cancer patients. The merged images are generated by DAPI, CK 8, 18 & 19, EpCAM and CD45 staining.

FIG. 9 is whisker plot of cytoplasmic diameters of white blood cells (WBCs), circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and circulating cancer associated macrophage-like cells (CAMLs).

FIG. 10 is a comparison of presence of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) captured by CellSearch® and pathologically-definable CTCs isolated by CellSieve™ microfiltration and circulating cancer associated macrophage-like cells (CAMLs) isolated at the same time by CellSieve™ microfiltration.

FIG. 11 is a plot of the number of circulating cancer associated macrophage-like cells (CAMLs) found in the circulation of breast, prostate, and pancreatic cancer patients in different stages of cancer.

FIG. 12 is plot of number of CAMLs and CTCs found in the prostate cancer patient samples.

FIG. 13 is plot of number of CAMLs and CTCs found in the pancreatic cancer patient samples.

FIG. 14 is plot of number of CAMLs and CTCs found in the breast cancer patient samples.

FIG. 15 is a plot of the number of circulating cancer associated macrophage-like cells (CAMLs) found in the circulation of breast, prostate, pancreatic and lung cancer patients in different stages of cancer.

FIGS. 16A and 16B are plots of number of CAMLs and CTCs found in the prostate cancer patient samples, respectively.

FIGS. 17A and 17B are plot of number of CAMLs and CTCs found in the pancreatic cancer patient samples, respectively.

FIGS. 18A and 18B are plot of number of CAMLs and CTCs found in the breast cancer patient samples, respectively.

FIG. 19 is plot of number of CAMLs and CTCs found in the lung cancer patients.

FIG. 20 is plot of number of CAMLs and CTCs found in the colorectal cancer patients.

FIG. 21 is an example of a CAML from a pancreatic cancer patient also stained for PDX-1.

FIG. 22 is an example of a CAML from a prostate cancer patient also stained for PSMA.

FIG. 23 shows H&E staining of CAMLs. Two representative CAMLs cells (A) and (B) are shown under a light microscope. The blocked arrow is a round vacuole located within the cytoplasm of the CAML. Open arrows show the individual nuclei and subsequent polynuclear nature of the CAMLs.

FIG. 24A is a plot of the number of circulating cancer associated macrophage-like cells (CAMLs) in breast cancer patients with no treatment, and hormone treatment or chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

FIG. 24B is a plot of the number of circulating cancer associated macrophage-like cells (CAMLs) in pancreatic cancer patients with no treatment, and chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

FIG. 25 shows (A) a CTC associated with a CAML, (B) a CTC bound to a CAML, (C) a CTC bound to a CAML with membrane fusing, and (D) a CAML that engulfed a CK positive cell.

FIG. 26 shows (A) examples of CAML from breast cancer patient stained for CD11c, CD14 and TIE-2, (B) examples of CAML from pancreatic cancer patient stained for CD11c, CD14 and TIE-2, (C) examples of CAML from breast cancer patient stained for CD11c, CD14 and CD146, and (D) examples of CAML from pancreatic cancer patient stained for CD11c, CD14 and CD146.

FIG. 27 shows CAMLS markers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The matters defined in the description such as a detailed construction and elements are nothing but the ones provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of the invention. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Cancer is the most feared illness in the world, affecting all populations and ethnicities in all countries. In the United States alone, American Cancer Society projects that in 2019 there will be more than 1.75 million new cancer cases and more than 0.6 million death. About 15 million living with cancer or cancer in remission. Cancer death worldwide is estimated to be about 8 million annually, of which 3 million occur in developed countries where patients have available treatment.

Ideally there is a biomarker that can (i) provide early detection of all solid tumors, for the general public and especially for at risk groups, such as those with a family history of cancer, those with BRAC1 and BRAC2 mutations, smokers (e.g., for lung cancer), those with high PSA (e.g. for prostate cancer in men), and/or (ii) provide early detection of recurrence of cancer.

Oncologists need to know how best to treat newly diagnosed cancer patients. The current testing standard is a tissue biopsy, which is used to determine the cancer subtype, because therapeutic drugs are frequently effective only for specific subtypes. The biopsy method varies by location, but is invasive and can be risky.

To monitor treatment, oncologists need to know how well the drug is working for the patient, whether the dose should be adjusted, and whether the disease is spreading or in remission. The common methods for answering these questions are x-ray computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs), both of which are expensive. Additionally, these methods cannot provide the necessary information until the tumor size has changed perceptibly.

Ninety percent of cancer patients die from metastasis, not from the primary tumor. The metastatic process involves tumor cells that break free of the primary carcinomas (solid tumors of epithelial cells) and enter the blood stream. These breakaway cancer cells are known as circulating tumor cells (CTCs). CTCs have the potential to be useful as a tool to determine therapy, monitor treatment, determine recurrence and provide prognostic information of survival. However, CTCs cannot be consistently collected from the blood even in stage III and IV cancers.

In this disclosure, a cell type is presented that is consistently found in the blood of carcinoma patients from stage I-IV. These cells are macrophage-like cells that contain the same tumor markers as the primary tumor and they are termed circulating Cancer Associated Macrophage-Like cells (CAMLs) herein.

CTCs and CAMLs can be found from the same patient sample at the same time by size exclusion methods, such as by microfiltration methods. Microfilters can be formed with pores big enough to let all red blood cells and majority of white blood cells through and retain larger cells such as CTCs and CAMLs. Size exclusion methods have also been implemented by microfluidic chips.

CAMLs have many clinical utilities when used alone. Furthermore, CAMLs can be combined with other markers such as CTCs, free DNA in blood and free proteins in blood to further improve sensitivity and specificity of a diagnosis. This is especially true for CAMLS and CTCs because they can be isolated and identified at the same time.

Circulating Tumor Cells

The CTCs express a number of cytokeratins (CKs). CK 8, 18, & 19 are the most commonly used in diagnostics, but surveying need not be limited to these three. The surface of solid tumor CTCs usually express epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM). However, this expression is not uniform or consistent. CTCs should not express any CD45, because it is a white blood cell marker. In assays to identify tumor associated cells, such as CTCs and CAMLs, it is sufficient to use antibody against CK 8, 18, or 19, or antibody against CD45 or DAPI. Combining the presence of staining with morphology, pathologically-definable CTCs, apoptotic CTCs and CAMLs can be identified.

FIGS. 1A-1D show four examples of pathologically-definable CTCs. A pathologically-definable CTC is identified by the following characteristics:

• • They have a “cancer-like” nucleus stained by DAPI or a nucleus undergoing degradation. The exception is when the cell is in division; the nucleus is condensed.
  • They express at least CK 8, 18 and 19. The cytokeratins have a filamentous pattern.
  • They lack CD45 expression. To avoid missing low expressing CD45 cells, long exposure is used during image acquisition.

A pathologically-definable CTC of the present invention thus includes those CTCs having one, two or three of the following characteristics: (a) cancer-like nucleus; (b) expression of one or more of cytokeratin 8, 18 and 19, and wherein the cytokeratins have filamentous pattern; and (c) CD45 negative phenotype.

FIG. 1A shows a pathologically-definable prostate cancer CTC expressing well-defined EpCAM and FIG. 1B shows a pathologically-definable prostate cancer CTC expressing very low or no EpCAM. FIG. 1C shows a pathologically-definable breast cancer CTC expressing well-defined EpCAM and FIG. 1D shows a pathologically-definable breast cancer CTC expressing very low or no EpCAM.

FIGS. 2A-2D show examples of apoptotic CTCs. An apoptotic CTC is identified by the following characteristics:

• • They have a cancerous nucleus.
  • They express at least CK 8, 18 and 19; the cytokeratins are not filamented, but appear fragmented in the form of spots.
  • They do not express CD45.

An apoptotic CTC of the present invention thus includes those CTCs having one, two or three of the following characteristics: (a) cancer-like nucleus; (b) expression of one or more of cytokeratin 8, 18 and 19, and wherein the cytokeratin is fragmented in the form of spots; and (c) CD45 negative phenotype.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show apoptotic breast cancer CTCs expressing very low or no EpCAM at early and mid-stages of apoptosis, respectively. FIGS. 2C and 2D show prostate cancer CTCs at mid stage of apoptosis expressing high and low EpCAM, respectively.

Circulating Cancer Associated Macrophage-Like Cells (CAMLs)

In the same patient samples, another type of cell was identified. This cell type has been termed a CAML. CAMLs have one or more of the following features:

• • CAMLs have a large, atypical polyploid nucleus or multiple individual nuclei, often scattered in the cell, though enlarged fused nucleoli are common. CAML nuclei generally range in size from about 10 μm to about 70 μm in diameter, more commonly from about 14 μm to about 64 μm in diameter.
  • For many cancers, CAMLs express the cancer marker of the disease. For example, CAMLs associated with epithelial cancers may express CK 8, 18 or 19, vimentin, etc. The markers are typically diffused, or associated with vacuoles and/or ingested material. The staining pattern for any marker is nearly uniformly diffused throughout the whole cell. For sarcomas, neuroblastomas and melanomas, other markers associated with the cancers can be used instead of CK 8, 18, 19.
  • CAMLs can be CD45 positive or CD45 negative, and the present invention encompasses the use of both types of CAMLs.
  • CAMLs are large, approximately 20 micron to approximately 300 micron in size by the longest dimension.
  • CAMLs are found in many distinct morphological shapes, including spindle, tadpole, round, oblong, two legs, more than two legs, thin legs, or amorphous shapes.
  • CAMLs from carcinomas typically have diffused cytokeratins.
  • If CAMLs express EpCAM, EpCAM is typically diffused throughout the cell, or associated with vacuoles and/or ingested material, and nearly uniform throughout the whole cell, but not all CAML express EpCAM, because some tumors express very low or no EpCAM.
  • If CAMLs express a marker, the marker is often diffused throughout the cell, or associated with vacuoles and/or ingested material, and nearly uniform throughout the whole cell, but not all CAML express the same markers with equal intensity and for a limited number of markers, the markers are not distributed equally throughout the cell.
  • CAMLs often express markers associated with the markers of the tumor origin, e.g. if the tumor is of prostate cancer origin and expresses PSMA, then CAMLs from such a patient also expresses PSMA. As another example, if the primary tumor is of pancreatic origin and expresses PDX-1, then CAMLs from such a patient also expresses PDX-1. As further example, if the primary tumor or CTC of the cancer origin express CXCR-4, then CAMLs from such a patient also express CXCR-4.
  • If the primary tumor or CTC originating from the cancer expresses a biomarker of a drug target, CAMLs from such a patient also express the biomarker of the drug target. An example of such a biomarker of immunotherapy is PD-L1.
  • CAMLs express monocytic markers (e.g. CD11c, CD14) and endothelial markers (e.g. CD146, CD202b, CD31).
  • CAMLs have the ability to bind Fc fragments.

An extensive set of markers were evaluated for their expression on CAMLs, and the results are shown in FIG. 27. In one aspect of the invention, the CAMLs of the present invention express 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 or all 21 of the markers shown in FIG. 27. The markers were screened against 1118 CAMLs from 93 different patients with different cancers. The markers can be detected and/or characterized using various means known to the skilled artisan, for example, antibodies having binding specificity for particular markers can be used to select, detect and/or identify cells expressing one or more markers. CAMLs were initially isolated and identified with DAPI, cytokeratin, and CD45; then sequentially restained with total of 27 markers including myeloid/macrophage, white blood cell, megakaryocyte, epithelial, endothelial, progenitor/stem, and motility markers. As can be seen from FIG. 27, marker expression ranges from 0% to 96%. Almost all CAMLs were found to express levels of CD31, and commonly co-expressed cytokeratin, CD14, CXCR4, vimentin and other markers. However, while CAMLs contained clear myeloid lineage marker (CD14), CD31 marker was expressed more often at 96%.

CAMLs also present with numerous phenotypes which do not appear to match the understanding of classical cellular differentiation (i.e. co-expression of CD45 [leukocyte] and cytokeratin [epithelial], CD11c/CD14 [macrophage] and CD41 [macrophage/megakaryocyte], CD146 [endothelial] and CD61 [macrophage/endothelial/megakaryocyte], CD31 [white blood cell/macrophage/endothelial/megakaryocyte/stem cell] and CD68/CD163 [macrophage]). Many of the markers appear on multiple cell types. Combined, these data show CAMLs are myeloid-derived cells early in their differentiation process that possess many phenotypic attributes associated with stem cell and proangiogenic capabilities.

CAMLs can be visualized by colorimetric stains, such as H&E, or fluorescent staining of specific markers as shown in FIG. 27. For the cytoplasm, CD31 is the most positive phenotype. CD31 alone, or in combination with other positive markers in FIG. 27, or cancer markers associated with the tumor are recommended.

Thus, and in the various embodiments and aspects of the invention, CAMLs can be defined as having each of the following characteristics:

• • (a) large atypical polyploid nucleus of about 14-64 μm in size, or multiple nuclei in the same cell;
  • (b) cell size of about 20-300 μm in size; and
  • (c) morphological shape selected from the group consisting of spindle, tadpole, round, oblong, two legs, more than two legs, thin legs, and amorphous.

In certain aspects of the embodiments of the invention, CAMLs can be further defined as having one or more of the following additional characteristics:

• • (d) CD14 positive phenotype;
  • (e) CD45 expression;
  • (f) EpCAM expression;
  • (g) vimentin expression;
  • (h) PD-L1 expression;
  • (i) CD11C marker expression;
  • (j) CD146 marker expression;
  • (k) CD202b marker expression;
  • (l) CD31 marker expression;
  • (m) cancer marker associated with the cancer of the patient; and
  • (n) CK8, 18, 19 epithelial phenotype.

As suggested above, the unique characteristics of the CAMLs and CTCs described herein make them well-suited for use in clinical methodology including methods of screening and diagnosis diseases such as cancer, monitoring treatment, monitoring of disease progression and recurrence.

Diagnostic Methods of Using CAMLs and CTCs

As suggested above, the unique characteristics of the CAMLs and CTCs described herein make them well-suited for use in clinical methodology including methods of screening and diagnosis diseases such as cancer, and in the monitoring of disease progression.

The invention is thus directed, in a first embodiment, to methods of screening a subject for cancer, comprising detecting circulating cancer associated macrophage-like cells (CAMLs) in a biological sample from a subject. In particular aspects, when CAMLs are detected in the biological sample, the subject is identified as potentially having a carcinoma or solid tumor. In other aspects, when CAMLs are detected in the biological sample, the subject is identified as having a carcinoma or solid tumor. In certain aspects, the methods encompassed by this embodiment also include detecting circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the biological sample. In particular aspects of this first embodiment, the subject is a subject suspected of having cancer.

In a second embodiment, the invention is directed to methods for diagnosing cancer in a subject, comprising detecting CAMLs in a biological sample from a subject, wherein when CAMLs are detected in the biological sample, the subject is diagnosed with cancer. In certain aspects, the methods encompassed by this embodiment also include detecting CTCs in the biological sample, wherein when CAMLs and CTCs are detected in the biological sample, the subject is diagnosed with cancer.

In a third embodiment, the invention is directed to methods for detecting recurrence of cancer in a subject, comprising detecting CAMLs in a biological sample from a subject previously treated for cancer or undergoing cancer treatment, wherein when CAMLs are detected in the biological sample, recurrence of cancer is detected. In certain aspects, the methods encompassed by this embodiment also include detecting CTCs in the biological sample, wherein when CAMLs and CTCs are detected in the biological sample, recurrence of cancer is detected.

In a fourth embodiment, the invention is directed to methods for confirming a diagnosis of cancer in a subject, comprising detecting CAMLs in a biological sample from a subject diagnosed with cancer, wherein when CAMLs are detected in the biological sample, a diagnosis of cancer is confirmed in the subject. In certain aspects, the methods encompassed by this embodiment also include detecting CTCs in the biological sample, wherein when CAMLs and CTCs are detected in the biological sample, a diagnosis of cancer is confirmed in the subject. In particular aspects, the initial cancer diagnosis is via mammography, PSA test, low dose CT or presence of CA125. In a particular aspect, the subject is suspected of having cancer.

In each of these embodiments, CAMLs are detected in the biological sample using appropriate means which include, but are not limited to, one or more of size exclusion methodology, immunocapture, red blood cell lysis, white blood cell depletion, FICOLL separation, electrophoresis, dielectrophoresis, flow cytometry, magnetic levitation, and use of microfluidic chips, or a combination thereof.

When size exclusion methodology is utilized, it may comprise the use of a microfilter. Suitable microfilters can have a variety of pore sizes and shapes. The microfilter may have a pore size ranging from about 5 microns to about 20 microns. Suitable ranges of pore sizes also include, but are not limited to, pore sizes ranging from about 5-7 microns, 8-10 microns, 11-13 microns, 14-16 microns, 17-20 microns, 5-10 microns, 11-15 microns, 15-20 microns, 9-15 microns, 16-20 microns, and 9-20 microns. Another suitable range comprises pore sizes ranging from about 5-20 microns, but excluding pore of between 7 and 8 microns. The pores of the microfilter may have any shape, with acceptable shapes including round, race-track shape, oval, slit, square, rectangular and/or other shapes. The microfilter may have precision pore geometry, uniform pore distribution, more than one pore geometry, and/or non-uniform pore distribution. The microfilter may be single layer, or multi-layers with different shapes on different layers.

Microfilters having pores of about 7-8 microns in size are acceptable, and include round and rectangular pore shapes. Microfilters having round pores of about 7-8 microns in size are especially optimal when polymeric microfilters are used. In a preferred aspect, the microfilter has precision pore geometry and uniform pore distribution.

Alternatively, CAMLs may be detected using a microfluidic chip based on means that include, but are not limited to, physical size-based sorting, slits, channels, hydrodynamic size-based sorting, grouping, trapping, immunocapture, concentrating large cells, or eliminating small cells based on size, or a combination thereof.

In each of these embodiments, CTCs may also be detected along with CAMLs. Such detection may be simultaneously or sequential detection, and can utilize the same or different means. For example, simultaneous detection using a microfilter having a pore size that selects for both cell types may be used. Suitable microfilters can have a variety of pore sizes and shapes and are defined above. Microfilters having pores of about 7-8 microns in size are acceptable, and include round and rectangular pore shapes. Microfilters having round pores of about 7-8 microns in size are especially optimal when polymeric microfilters are used. In a preferred aspect, the microfilter has precision pore geometry and uniform pore distribution.

The methods provided in these embodiments may be practiced using any biological sample suspected of containing CTCs and/or CAMLs. Suitable biological samples include, but are not limited to, one or more selected from the group consisting of peripheral blood, blood, lymph nodes, bone marrow, cerebral spinal fluid, tissue, and urine. In a preferred aspect, the biological sample is peripheral blood. When the biological sample is blood, the blood may be antecubital-vein blood, inferior-vena-cava blood, femoral vein blood, portal vein blood, or jugular-vein blood, for example. The sample may be a fresh sample or a properly prepared cryo-preserved sample that is thawed.

The skilled artisan will appreciate that the methods provided in these embodiments are not limited to particular forms or types of cancer and that they may be practiced in association with a wide variety of cancers. Exemplary cancers include, but are not limited to, solid tumors, Stage I cancer, Stage II cancer, Stage III cancer, Stage IV cancer, carcinoma, sarcoma, neuroblastoma, melanoma, epithelial cell cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer, head and neck cancer, kidney cancer, ovarian cancer, esophageal cancer or other solid tumor cancer.

Monitoring Treatment Efficacy Using CAMLs and CTCs

As suggested above, the unique characteristics of the CAMLs and CTCs described herein also make them well-suited for use in monitoring the effectiveness of disease treatments.

The present invention is thus directed, in a fifth embodiment, to methods for monitoring efficacy of a cancer treatment, comprising:

• • (a) determining the number of CAMLs in a biological sample from a subject before cancer treatment, and
  • (b) comparing the number of CAMLs determined in (a) to a number of CAMLs determined from a similar biological sample from the same subject at one or more time points after treatment.

Given the prognostic capabilities associated with CTCs, the methods of this embodiment may further include the following additional steps:

• • (c) determining the number of CTCs in the biological sample of (a), and
  • (d) comparing the number of CTCs determined in (c) to a number of CTCs determined from the biological sample of (b).

The skilled artisan will understand that a change in the number of CAMLs and/or CTCs will be an indication of treatment efficacy, where the change may be an increase or a decrease in the number of CAMLs and/or CTCs.

The particular cancer treatment is not limited by this method, but will generally comprise chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy.

These methods can be practiced by determining number of CAMLs using one or more means selected from the group consisting of size exclusion methodology, immunocapture, red blood cell lysis, white blood cell depletion, FICOLL separation, electrophoresis, dielectrophoresis, flow cytometry, magnetic levitation, and use of microfluidic chips, or a combination thereof.

When size exclusion methodology is used, it may comprise use of a microfilter. Suitable microfilters can have a variety of pore sizes and shapes. The microfilter has pores, with pore sizes ranging from about 5 microns to about 20 microns. Suitable ranges of pore sizes also include, but are not limited to, pore sizes ranging from about 5-7 microns, 8-10 microns, 11-13 microns, 14-16 microns, 17-20 microns, 5-10 microns, 11-15 microns, 15-20 microns, 9-15 microns, 16-20 microns, and 9-20 microns. Another suitable range comprises pore sizes ranging from about 5-20 microns, but excluding pore of between 7 and 8 microns. The pores of the microfilter may have any shape, with acceptable shapes including round, race-track shape, oval, slit, square, rectangular and/or other shapes. The microfilter may have precision pore geometry, uniform pore distribution, more than one pore geometry, and/or non-uniform pore distribution. The microfilter may be single layer, or multi-layers with different shapes on different layers. In a preferred aspect, the microfilter has precision pore geometry and uniform pore distribution. In another aspect, the number of CAMLs is determined using a microfluidic chip based on means that include, but are not limited to, physical size-based sorting, hydrodynamic size-based sorting, slits, channels, grouping, trapping, immunocapture, concentrating large cells, or eliminating small cells based on size, or a combination thereof. In another particular aspect, the number of CAMLs is determined using a CellSieve™ low-pressure microfiltration assay.

When both are monitored, the numbers of CAMLs and CTCs may be determined sequential or simultaneously using the same means or different means. For example, simultaneous detection using a microfilter having a pore size that selects for both cell types may be used. Suitable microfilters can have a variety of pore sizes and shapes as defined above. Microfilters having round pores of about 7-8 microns in size are especially optimal when polymeric microfilters are used. In a preferred aspect, the microfilter has precision pore geometry and uniform pore distribution.

The methods provided in this embodiment may be practiced using any biological sample suspected of containing CTCs and/or CAMLs. Suitable biological samples include, but are not limited to, one or more selected from the group consisting of peripheral blood, blood, lymph nodes, bone marrow, cerebral spinal fluid, tissue, and urine. In a preferred aspect, the biological sample is peripheral blood. In other aspects, the blood is antecubital-vein blood, inferior-vena-cava blood, femoral vein blood, portal vein blood, or jugular-vein blood. The sample may be a fresh sample or a cryo-preserved sample that is thawed.

The skilled artisan will appreciate that the methods provided in this embodiment are not limited to particular forms or types of cancer and that they may be practiced in association with a wide variety of cancers. Exemplary cancers include, but are not limited to, solid tumors, Stage I cancer, Stage II cancer, Stage III cancer, Stage IV cancer, carcinoma, sarcoma, neuroblastoma, melanoma, epithelial cell cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer, head and neck cancer, kidney cancer, ovarian cancer, esophageal cancer or other solid tumor cancer.

Discussions of the Biology and Clinical Results of CAMLs

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are specialized differentiated macrophages found within most tumors, which can be used as prognostic indicators of either tumor invasiveness or tumor suppression. TAMs, recruited to the stroma from circulating monocytes, are required for tumor cell intravasation, migration, extravasation, and angiogenesis. Tumors attract monocytes via chemoattractants (MCP-1, CCL-2). In turn TAMs secrete cytokines, chemokines and growth factors (e.g. MMP-1, CXCL12) which stimulate tumor cells with the potential to become circulating tumor cells (CTCs). TAMs and tumor cells then migrate via the lymphatic system, or intravasate across intra-tumor capillary barriers into the peripheral circulation.

Pathological evidence detailing the initial dissemination steps of CTCs via a metastatic cascade remains inconclusive. Typically, a cancer cell dissemination cascade requires 3 steps: CTC separation from the tumor, movement away from the parent mass, and migration into the circulatory system. Though various theories explain select aspects of this cascade (endothelial progenitor cells, cancer mesenchymal stem cells, hybrid cancer cells, etc.), none completely explain all three processes. Recently, in vivo studies have shown that circulating monocytic cells are intricately involved in tumor cell invasiveness, motility, and metastatic potential. Interactions between myeloid lineage cells and tumor cells have been documented in patients and modeled in mice suggesting a pathway for intravasation, but the mechanism for the final dissemination step is yet to be established.

Here we describe the existence of CAMLs, a highly differentiated giant circulating (macrophage-like) cell isolated from the peripheral blood of breast, prostate, and pancreatic cancer patients, which we hypothesize could be a disseminated TAM (DTAM). We isolated this cell type using CellSieve™ microfilter (Creatv MicroTech) with precision pore dimensions and uniform distribution. CellSieve™ microfiltration of 7.5 ml of whole peripheral blood are performed under low pressure without damaging cells, allowing for histological identification of cellular morphology. We define this giant cell as a circulating Cancer Associated Macrophage-Like cell (CAML), as it exhibits a CD14+ expression, vacuoles of phagocytosed material, and found exclusively in cancer patients (FIGS. 3-7, and Table 1). We propose that this cell population, not found in healthy individuals, could serve as a robust cellular biomarker of a previously undefined innate immune response to cancer aggressiveness, and monitor chemotherapy- and radiation therapy-induced responses. Observations of these giant cells interacting with CTCs while in circulation supports evidence that a patient's innate immune response has an observable effect on the migration of CTCs. The TIE-2 positive markers expressed by these macrophages suggest a role of CAML as cellular initiators of neovascularization within tumor metastases. We have uncovered supporting in vivo evidence that CAMLs may play an associated role in the migration of CTCs in circulation.

Giant fused macrophages are a poorly understood cell found in a multitude of tissues. They are hybrids of multinucleated cells originating from myeloid lineage involved in numerous physiological and pathological processes, including phagocytosis of foreign and necrotic tissue, tissue reabsorption, and inflammation. We find that CAMLs are giant cells presenting with enlarged nuclei, CD45+ and exhibit diffused cytoplasmic staining characteristic of epithelial cells: cytokeratin 8, 18, 19, and epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) (FIGS. 3-8). Multiple individual nuclei can be found in CAMLs, though large fused nucleoli (14-64 μm diameter) are common (FIGS. 3-8). CAML cytoplasm, defined by a cytokeratin border, range from 21-300 um in length and is found on the filter with five distinct morphological phenotypes (spindle, tadpole, round, oblong, or amorphous) (FIGS. 3-8).

Although identification of these cells is straightforward due to their extreme size, large nuclear profile, and cytoplasmic signature, they have highly heterogeneous phenotypes. The expression of cytokeratin, EpCAM and CD45 all vary from lack of expression to very intense expression (FIGS. 8A-8H). This heterogeneity is further indicated in the five cell structures, the size ranges, and the various nuclear profiles (FIGS. 8A-8H). High marker expression heterogeneity implies CAMLs represent either different stages along pathways of differentiation or are the product of nonspecific cellular engulfment with varying cell types. This is unsurprising as macrophages are a highly plastic cell type capable of differentiating into numerous cell phenotypes.

Recognizing that CAMLs could serve as an independent prognostic indicator of cancer progression, similar to CTC enumeration, we compared the number of CAMLs and CTCs using the CellSieve™ low-pressure microfiltration assay (Creatv MicroTech, Inc) and the CellSearch® Circulating Tumor Cell test (Veridex, LLC). CTCs have been a challenge to isolate due to their rarity and limited occurrence (10-50%) in cancer patients with metastatic disease. TAM enumeration and phenotyping could have prognostic utility, but currently lacks sequential testing, tracking primary to metastatic progression, as this would require numerous invasive tumor biopsies. Enumeration of CTCs enriched by CellSearch® and CellSieve™ systems were directly compared to the enumeration of CAMLs isolated by CellSieve™ using blood from 29 cancer patients (FIG. 10). While CellSearch® uses EpCAM antibodies to enrich CTCs, CellSieve™ uses size exclusion. Both technologies phenotypically identify CTCs utilizing an antibody panel of anti-cytokeratin 8, 18, and 19, DAPI nuclear stain and absence of anti-CD45. Employing a CTC count of ≥1, the sensitivity of the CellSieve™ system was 72% [21 of 29 patients; breast=15/21 (71%), prostate=6/8 (75%)], while that of the CellSearch® system was 58% [15 of 29 patients; breast=9/21 (43%), prostate=6/8 (75%)]. CAML capture was positive in 97% (28 of 29) of samples tested (FIG. 10). Interestingly, the only CAML negative sample was a breast cancer patient being treated with bisphosphonates, a class of drugs, which inhibit formation of osteoclasts, a giant myeloid cell of the bone composed of fused cells. Thus, as the specificity of CAMLs is 100% for the samples tested, presence of CAML may provide a method for non-invasive sequential testing for use as a prognostic indicator of metastatic disease for a broad range of cancer patients.

To assess the sensitivity and specificity of CAMLs for applicability as a prognostic indication of metastatic disease, we examined samples from early to late stage cancer patients, and healthy subjects. Samples from 76 patients were run on CellSieve™ microfilters. The stage distribution included, Stage I (n=8), Stage II (n=9), Stage III (n=13), Stage IV (n=24), unknown stage (n=22) across three cancers: breast (n=29), pancreatic (n=27), and prostate (n=20) (Table S1). We included newly diagnosed and untreated patients (n=36) as well as patients undergoing non-surgical therapies (n=40) (Table 1). The study included healthy subjects (n=30), including two with benign disease, one fibroadenoma and one basal cell carcinoma. No CAMLs were found in this control group (Table 1). CAMLs were found in 97% (36 of 37) cancer patients with Stage III/IV cancer, 77% (13 of 17) of Stage I/II, and 93% (71 of 76) of all patients regardless of cancer type (FIG. 11). CAMLs were found in 85% (prostate) (FIG. 12), 93% (pancreatic) (FIG. 13), and 97% (breast) (FIG. 14) of the patients. CAMLs in prostate cancer samples were slightly lower in number, possibly due to the fact that 6 of 20 prostate patients were stage I. Although CTC analysis on microfilters provided an overall positivity of 54% across all patients tested, CAMLs provided 93% sensitivity across the same cohort (FIGS. 12-14 and Table 1). Though further study of patients with various illnesses must be assessed, these findings demonstrate that the presence CAMLs could provide a robust and widely applicable assessment of cancer status.

TABLE 1
Summary of healthy subjects, CAML patient data and CTC patient data
separated by stage, cancer type and therapy type. CTCs are found in a small percent of Stage I and
II patients, while CAMLs are found in many stage I-IV patients. CTC numbers between the
patients is highly variable with a standard deviation (SD) of >300%. CAMLs have a much lower
SD, 110%, and whose numbers seem to correlate with stage and treatment.
		CAML	Mean			CTC
	No. of	positive	CAML±	Median	CAML	positive	Mean CTC ±	Median	CTC
Subject	patients	(%)	SD	CAML	range	(%)	SD	CTC	range
Healthy Normals	28	0	0 ± 0	0	0-0	0	0 ± 0	0	0-0
Nonmalignant	2	0	0 ± 0	0	0-0	0	0 ± 0	0	0-0
Stage I	8	63	10.8 ± 20.9	3	0-61	38	4.6 ± 11.9	0	0-34
Stage II	9	89	8.0 ± 9.6	3	0-28	22	1.6 ± 3.1	0	0-28
Stage III	13	100	15.8 ± 12.5	9.5	2-43	62	13.3 ± 30.2	3.5	0-108
Stage IV	24	96	21.3 ± 23.8	8	0-82	75	57.2 ± 172.4	3	0-682
Unknown	22	95	6.2 ± 4.5	5.5	0-20	45	4.8 ± 17.5	0
Cancer Type	76	93	13.4 ± 17.4	6	0-82	54	22.5 ± 100.3	1	0-682
Breast (IBC)	14	93	24.9 ± 24.0	23.5	0-82	71	11.4 ± 28.1	3	0-108
Breast (IDC)	8	100	15.9 ± 16.1	10.5	1-41	100	9.0 ± 17.0	3.5	Jan-51
Breast	7	100	15.0 ± 14.2	8	2-32	71	106.3 ± 254.2	5	0-682
(unknown)
Prostate	20	85	9.0 ± 14.3	3	0-64	35	3.3 ± 7.9	0	0-34
Pancreatic	27	93	9.5 ± 14.5	5	0-72	41	24.8 ± 106.5	0	0-541
Therapy Type	76
No treatment	36	86	4.4 ± 4.0	3.5	0-19	42	20.2 ± 92.0	0	0-541
Hormone	13	92	11.8 ± 16.7	8	0-64	69	6.2 ± 9.6	3	0-34
Chemotherapy	24	100	26.2 ± 21.9	27	2-82	58	8.9 ± 22.6	2	0-108
Unknown	3	100	26.3 ± 11.6	25	13-34	100	229.3 ± 392.0	4	2-682

As more samples were collected, additional CAML data was obtained. FIG. 15 presents CAML counts for 122 patients with staging information for breast, pancreatic, prostate and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). For Stage I, one pancreatic cancer patient and six prostate cancer patients did not have any CAMLs. For Stage II, one pancreatic cancer patient and one prostate cancer patient did not have any CAMLs. For Stage IV, one breast cancer patient, one lung cancer patient and three pancreatic cancer patients did not have any CAMLs.

FIGS. 16A and 16B present numbers of CAMLs and CTCs from prostate cancer patient data obtained to date, respectively. Staging information was not known for all patients. The percentage of prostate cancer patients with CAMLs was 81% (30/37) (FIG. 16A), where 13 are known as Stage I. The percentage of prostate cancer patients with pathologically-definable CTCs was 32% (12/37) (FIG. 16B).

FIGS. 17A and 17B present numbers of CAMLs and CTCs from pancreatic cancer patient data obtained to date, respectively. Staging information was not known for all patients. The percentage of pancreatic cancer patients with CAMLs was 93% (71/76) (FIG. 17A), where 11 were known as Stage I. Two samples had pathologically-definable CTCs larger than 80. Samples No. 13 and 53 had 83 and 541 pathologically-definable CTCs, respectively. The percentage of prostate cancer patients with pathologically-definable CTCs was 23% (18/76) (FIG. 17B).

FIGS. 18A and 18B present numbers of CAMLs and CTCs from breast cancer patient data obtained to date, respectively. Staging information was not known for all patients. The percentage of breast cancer patients with CAMLs was 97% (36/37) (FIG. 18A), where only one was known as Stage I. One Stage IV patient did not have any CAML because she was taking the bisphosphonates. Four samples had pathologically-definable CTCs larger than 110. Samples No. 17, 27 and 30 had 978, 682 and 707 pathologically-definable CTCs, respectively. The percentage of breast cancer patients with pathologically-definable CTCs was 84% (31/37) (FIG. 18B).

FIG. 19 presents numbers of CAMLs and CTCs from NSCLC patient data obtained to date. Staging information was not known for all patients. The percentage of NSCLC patients with CAMLs was 88% (7/8). The percentage of NSCLC patients with pathologically-definable CTCs was 38% (3/8).

FIG. 20 presents numbers of CAMLs and CTCs from colorectal cancer patient data obtained to date. All the patients were Stage IV. The percentage of colorectal cancer patients with CAMLs was 100% (4/4) for this small sample size. The percentage of colorectal cancer patients with pathologically-definable CTCs was 25% (1/4).

In all these data, the CAMLs were found in much larger number of the patients than CTCs.

Though further study of patients with various illnesses must be assessed, these findings demonstrate that the presence CAMLs provides a robust and widely applicable assessment of cancer status for carcinomas.

We propose that CAML represents a specialized TAM initiating at the site of tumor and disseminating into circulation. This would be consistent with previous publications characterizing TAMs at the primary tumor site, as well as the observations that CAMLs appear CD14+, have engulfed epithelial tissue, and occur exclusively in cancer patients. To understand the origin of CAMLs, we looked at whether they arise from circulating monocytes or directly from DTAMs. As TAMs and monocytes would both present with similar protein markers, we assessed the presence of engulfed organ-specific markers, Pancreatic Duodenal Homeobox-1 (PDX-1) for pancreatic patients or Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) for prostate patients. PDX-1 is a differentiation and development marker found in adult endocrine organs, namely pancreatic cells. PSMA is a membrane glycoprotein, which is highly expressed in prostate cells. After isolating and enumerating CAMLs, we re-stained pre-identified CAML samples with PSMA or PDX-1. A PDX-1 positive reaction was seen in all CAMLs from pancreatic samples (FIG. 21), while PSMA was found in all CAMLs from prostate samples (FIG. 22). While possible that cellular fusion or ingestion of debris occurred away from the tumor site, the high concentration of markers coupled with the scarcity of tumor debris in circulation make this unlikely. Instead, we interpret this suite of biomarker staining as evidence that CAMLs are a subtype of DTAMs, and that staining occurred from phagocytosed necrotic debris, or engulfed neoplastic cells from the tumor site.

TABLE 2
Cell markers used to analyze the CAMLs. (+) Positive in the majority of cell types;
(−) negative in the majority of cell types; (+/−) cell populations heterogeneous for this marker
and may be positive or negative; (*) found only in cells from pancreatic cancer patients; (‡) found
only in cells from prostate cancer patients; (♦) a small subset population on monocytes are positive
for this marker; (∘) monocytes are a subpopulation of white blood cells and will express these markers.
						TIE-2	Cytokeratin	EpCAM	CD45
Cell Type	PDX-1	PSMA	CD11c	CD14	CD146	(C202b)	8, 18 & 19	(CD326)	(LCA)
CCAMLC	+(*)	+(‡)	+	+/−	+/−	+/−	+	+	+/−
Breast CTC	−	−	−	−	−	−	+	+/−	−
Prostate CTC	−	+	−	−	−	−	+	+/−	−
Pancreas CTC	+	−	−	−	−	−	+	+/−	−
Epithelial Cell	−	−	−	−	−	−	+	+	−
Monocyte	−	−	+	+	− (♦)	− (♦)	−	−	+
Endothelial Cell	−	−	−	−	+	+	+	−	−
White Blood Cell	−	−	−(∘)	−(∘)	−	−	−	−	+

FIG. 23 shows H & E Staining of CAMLs. Samples from breast cancer patients were identified by fluorescent DAPI and cytokeratin stains. Filters were then re-stained by Hematoxylin and by Eosin Y. Two representative CAMLs cells are shown under a light microscope. The blocked arrow is a round vacuole located within the cytoplasm of the CAML. Open arrows show the individual nuclei and subsequent polynuclear nature of the CAMLs (A) An oval shaped CAMLs that has 3 visible nuclei and a vacuole (B) Round shaped CAML that has 5 visible nuclei.

To further test whether CAMLs are a DTAM subtype, we compared therapy regimes and temporal changes in the number of CAMLs in relation to cancer progression and stability. We hypothesized that if CAMLs are associated with phagocytosis of cellular debris due to cytotoxicity at the tumor site, i.e. derived from TAMs, then patients not chemo-responsive or undergoing only hormone therapy would not produce additional cellular debris and thus would have no change in CAML numbers. Conversely, patients that are responsive to chemotherapy would have an increase in CAMLs. Analysis of therapeutic regimes showed that only chemotherapy, not hormonal nor non-therapy was associated with an increase in CAML levels in breast cancer patients (FIG. 24A) and pancreatic cancer patients (FIG. 24B). For Pancreatic cancer patients, CAMLs for chemotherapy average is 16.4 CAMLs, and for no therapy is 4.1. We find that non-treated and hormone treated patients, who should show little change in tumor size, have low numbers of CAMLs <0.4-0.6/mL blood (FIGS. 24A-B). Conversely, if a chemotherapeutic regime was in use, CAML numbers increased to 3.9/mL. These data suggest that CAMLs may provide a sensitive representation of phagocytosis at the tumor site that could quantify a cell-specific immune response to the extent of cellular debris caused by chemotherapy.

CTCs originate at a tumor site, circulate in peripheral blood, and have the ability to seed metastatic sites. However, the pathway for CTC detachment and invasion into the circulatory system is a complex process. We analyzed CAMLs isolated from patient samples for evidence of a CTC/CAML interaction. CTCs were found bound to CAMLs in 3 of 72 patients, all in metastatic disease (FIGS. 25A-25C). In addition, three instances of CAMLs were found with engulfed cells that appeared to have a neoplastic/CTC phenotype (FIG. 25D). Representing 7% of patients, the observed interaction of a dual pair CTC and CAML is indicative of two possibilities. First, these cells attached while in circulation, implying that CAMLs are an active immune response to cancer cells in blood. Second, these cells bind at the primary tumor and disseminated together into circulation, implying a similar pathway of intravasation. In either case, this pairing of cells suggests that CAMLs may play a role in the immune response to cancer cell migration in the peripheral blood of cancer patients.

Circulating monocytes have the ability to enter any tissue compartment of the body, including lymph nodes, bone marrow, most organs, and even cross the blood brain barrier. Angiogenic Endothelial Progenitor Cells (EPCs) with neovascular potential are capable of being derived from macrophages, and TIE-2+ (CD202b) macrophages are intricately involved in tumor vascularization. Recent in vitro and mouse in vivo experiments have shown that EPCs derived from CD14+/CD11c+ monocytes differentiate into CD146+/TIE-2+ endothelial cells capable of pro-angiogenic activity. As CAMLs presented with an EPC-like spindle phenotype, we analyzed CAMLs for evidence of this pathway. After identifying CAML positive samples, we stained CAMLs with panels of monocytic markers, CD11c and CD14, as well as angiogenic endothelial markers, CD146 or TIE-2 (FIGS. 26A-26D). We observed CAMLs positive for both monocytic and endothelial markers. The monocytic marker CD11c was the most reactive, found in all CAMLs stained, while a secondary monocytic marker CD14 was the least reactive, at times negative. The pro-angiogenic marker (TIE-2) and endothelial marker (CD146) stained positive in CAMLs, but staining intensity was intermittent. The endothelial/monocytic overlap findings are not surprising, as circulating monocytes have high morphological and marker heterogeneity. Even today there is great debate over the mononuclear phagocytic system for classification as endothelial cells, bone marrow-derived cells and monocytic cell express overlapping markers and have similar developmental pathways. Nevertheless, the presence of CD146, or TIE-2, on CD14 positive cells indicates a specialized pro-angiogenic macrophage capable of neovascular potential.

Although many studies have focused on dissemination of CTCs, TAMs may be involved in seeding, proliferation and neovascularization of metastases. While previous studies provide evidence for vascular infiltration of tumor cells through macrophage assistance, our results now also supply evidence of macrophage interaction with tumor cells in the circulation. We hypothesis that CAMLs originating at the primary tumor disseminate into the circulation. We also show that CAMLs bind to and migrate through the circulation attached to CTCs, possibly disseminating in conjunction. Finally, we describe pro-angiogenic TIE-2/CD146-expressing CAMLs, indicating the ability to neovascularize a metastatic microenvironment. These data provide clinical evidence that pro-angiogenic cells migrate bound to CTCs, suggesting a link between intravasation, migration and extravasation of CTCs.

Capture of CAMLS and CTC

Cells larger and/or less flexible than other cells present in a bodily fluid may be collected by filtering the bodily fluid. For example, targeted cells indicative of a condition may be collected by passing a bodily fluid through a filter having openings that are too small for the target cells to pass through, but large enough for other cells to pass through. Once collected, any number of analyses of the target cells may be performed. Such analyses may include, for example, identifying, counting, characterizing expressions of markers, obtaining molecular analysis, and/or culturing the collected cells.

In each of the embodiments and aspects of the invention, the circulating cells (CAMLs) are isolated from the biological samples for the determining steps using one or more means selected from size exclusion methodology, immunocapture, red blood cell lysis, white blood cell depletion, FICOLL separation, electrophoresis, dielectrophoresis, flow cytometry, magnetic levitation, and various microfluidic chips via physical size-based sorting, slits, channels, hydrodynamic size-based sorting, grouping, trapping, concentrating large cells, eliminating small cells, or a combination thereof. In a particular aspect, the size exclusion methodology comprises use of a microfilter.

In one aspect of the invention, circulating cells (CAMLs) are isolated from the biological samples using size exclusion methodology that comprises using a microfilter. Suitable microfilters can have a variety of pore sizes and shapes. The microfilter may have a pore size ranging from about 5 microns to about 20 microns. Suitable ranges of pore sizes also include, but are not limited to, pore sizes ranging from about 5-7 microns, 8-10 microns, 11-13 microns, 14-16 microns, 17-20 microns, 5-10 microns, 11-15 microns, 15-20 microns, 9-15 microns, 16-20 microns, and 9-20 microns. Another suitable range comprises pore sizes ranging from about 5-20 microns, but excluding pore of between 7 and 8 microns. In certain aspects of the invention, the pore size is between about 5 and 10 microns; in other aspects, the pore size is between about 7 and 8 microns. The larger pore sizes will eliminate most of the WBC contamination on the filter. The pores of the microfilter may have any shape, with acceptable shapes including round, race-track shape, oval, slit, square, rectangular and/or other shapes. The microfilter may have precision pore geometry, uniform pore distribution, more than one pore geometry, and/or non-uniform distribution. The microfilter may be single layer, or multi-layers with different shapes on different layers.

In another aspect of the invention, circulating cells (CAMLs) are isolated from the biological samples using a microfluidic chip via physical size-based sorting, slits, channels, hydrodynamic size-based sorting, grouping, trapping, immunocapture, concentrating large cells, or eliminating small cells based on size. The circulating cell (CAML) capture efficiency can vary depending on the collection method. The circulating cell (CAML) size that can be captured on different platforms can also vary. The principle of using circulating cell size to determine prognosis and survival is the same, but the statistics will vary. Collection of circulating cells using CellSieve™ microfilters provides 100% capture efficiency and high quality cells.

Another aspect of the invention is the use of blood collection tubes in which to obtain the biological sample, such as blood. CellSave blood collection tubes (Menarini Silicon Biosystems Inc., San Diego, Calif.) provide stable cell morphology and size. Other available blood collection tubes do not provide cell stability. Cells can enlarge and may even burst in most other blood collection tubes.

Another aspect of the invention is to identify large cells in the sample without specifically identifying the cells as CAML cells per se, instead simply identifying the cells based on size of the cytoplasm and nucleus. Examples are techniques using color metric stains, such as H&E stains, or just looking at CK (+) cells.

In a further aspect of the invention, circulating cells (CAMLs) are isolated from the biological samples using a CellSieve™ low-pressure microfiltration assay.

Subjects

The subjects mentioned in the methods of the present invention will be a human, a non-human primate, bird, horse, cow, goat, sheep, a companion animal, such as a dog, cat or rodent, or other mammal. Animals also can develop cancer. Cancer causes almost 50% of deaths in pets over the age of 10. Some common types of cancers in pets include: skin, breast, head and neck, lymphoma, leukemia, testicular, abdominal, and bone. Examples of cancers commonly found in pets that are also commonly found in humans are lymphoma, melanoma, and osteosarcoma. CAMLs are found in pets. So the clinical utility of CAMLs for humans are also applicable to animals.

Summary of Clinical Utilities

These results support the idea that CAMLs provide a robust indicator of cancer presence.

The sensitivity and specificity of the utility of CAMLs can be further improved in combination with simultaneous detection of CTCs.

Cancer screening is a strategy used in a population to identify an unrecognized disease in individuals without signs or symptoms, with pre-symptomatic or unrecognized symptomatic disease. As such, screening tests are somewhat unique in that they are performed on persons apparently in good health. Presence of CAMLs in blood can be used to detect a single cancer or a panel of cancers.

Since CAMLs can be found in stage I and II of cancer, CAMLs can be used as screening for early detection of carcinomas of epithelial origin especially for high risk patients for lung, pancreatic, colorectal and other cancers that does not have early detection methods. Specificity of the type of cancer can be determined by staining for various cancer site specific markers. Some examples are (i) use antibody against PSMA to specifically identifying prostate cancer, (ii) use antibody against PDX-1 to specifically identifying lung cancer, (iii) antibody against CA125 for ovarian cancer, and (iv) clorotoxin to identify glioma.

Diagnostic testing is a procedure performed to confirm, or determine the presence of disease in an individual suspected of having the disease. CAMLs can be used as a cancer diagnostic to provide additional non-invasive diagnostics to confirm other screening techniques, such as mammography for breast cancer, PSA for prostate cancer, low dose CT for lung cancer and CA125 for ovarian cancer.

Similarly CAMLs can be used to determine early recurrence of cancer when the cancer was under remission. Currently CT and MRI are used to monitor the patient's tumor, requiring the tumor to change in size substantially to notice the difference. Patients can therefore lose valuable time in beginning treatment when only subtle size changes occur. CAMLs, alone or in combination with CTCs, can provide early detection of return of cancer. Non-invasive blood test of CAMLs and CTCs is much lower in cost than CT and MRI.

The capability of tracking CAMLs provides a novel opportunity to routinely monitor necrosis and therapy response. If the treatment is working, the number of pathologically-definable CTCs will decrease. However, CTCs are detectable mostly in metastatic breast, prostate and colorectal cancer, but not in earlier stages. CTCs are usually not detected in other solid tumors even Stage IV. On the other hand, CAMLs are found in all major solid tumors even in Stage I. The decrease of CAML number is an indication whether treatment is working. The exception is the first treatment of chemotherapy. If chemotherapy is working, the number of CAMLs will increase compared to number of CAMLs before chemotherapy, because CAMLs engulf dead tumor material. If tumor size or reduction of metastatic sites, then the number of CAMLs will decrease.

For most cancers there are an array of treatments. If the patient is not responding to one type of treatment, the patient can quickly switch to another.

The CAMLs can also potentially be used to determine cancer subtyping or gene mutations, translocations or amplification. There are a number of cancerous nuclei in each CAMLs. Thus, molecular analysis of the nucleus for genetic mutation, genetic defects, gene translocations can provide information to determine treatments. There are drugs that specifically target certain gene mutations, translocation or amplifications. CAMLs can be used along or in parallel with CTCs for molecular analysis.

Circulating monocytes have the ability to enter any tissue compartment of the body, including lymph nodes, bone marrow, most organs, and even cross the blood brain barrier. The detection of CAMLs are not limited to blood, but also can be found in lymph nodes, bone marrow, cerebral spinal fluid, tissue, and urine.

The typical number of CAMLs in 7.5 mL of blood vary depending on the type of cancer. For example, breast cancer typically have more CAMLs than lung cancer in tube of peripheral blood. The efficiency of a device or method to collect CAMLs also vary. So the volume needed for a given cancer using a particular device needs to be optimized.

In certain aspects of the embodiments of the invention, the size of the biological sample, e.g. blood, is between 0.1 and 50 mL.

Blood volumes of 50 mL have been shown to be successfully screened using CellSieve™ microfilters with 180,000 pores. The typical recommended volume of blood to capture CAMLs and CTCs would be 7.5-15.0 ml or greater depending on the type of cancer for adults. For animals, the volume will be partially based on the size of the animal.

Claims

1. A method of screening a subject for cancer, comprising detecting circulating Cancer Associated Macrophage-Like cells (CAMLs) in blood of a subject, wherein said detecting comprises:

(a) isolating intact cells of between 20 and 300 micron in size from a biological sample obtained from a subject using a means selected from the group consisting of size exclusion methodology, immunocapture, red blood cell lysis, white blood cell depletion, FICOLL separation, electrophoresis, dielectrophoresis, flow cytometry, magnetic levitation, microfluidic chip, and a combination thereof, and

(b) selecting cells isolated in (a) having (i) a large atypical polyploid nucleus of about 14-64 μm in size or multiple nuclei, and (ii) a morphological shape selected from the group consisting of spindle, tadpole, round, oblong, two legs, more than two legs, thin legs, and amorphous,

thereby detecting CAMLs in a biological sample from a subject,

wherein when CAMLs are detected in the biological sample, the subject is determined to have cancer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the cancer is carcinoma or solid tumor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the cancer is breast, prostate, lung, pancreatic, or colorectal.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the biological sample.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the cells are isolated in (a) using size exclusion methodology.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the size exclusion methodology is use of a microfilter having pores ranging in size from 5 to 20 microns.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the blood is peripheral blood.

8. A method for confirming a diagnosis of cancer in a subject, comprising detecting CAMLs in a biological sample from a subject previously diagnosed with cancer, wherein said detecting comprises:

(a) isolating intact cells of between 20 and 300 micron in size from blood obtained from a subject using a means selected from the group consisting of size exclusion methodology, immunocapture, red blood cell lysis, white blood cell depletion, FICOLL separation, electrophoresis, dielectrophoresis, flow cytometry, magnetic levitation, microfluidic chip, and a combination thereof, and

(b) selecting cells isolated in (a) having (i) a large atypical polyploid nucleus of about 14-64 μm in size or multiple nuclei, and (ii) a morphological shape selected from the group consisting of spindle, tadpole, round, oblong, two legs, more than two legs, thin legs, and amorphous,

thereby detecting CAMLs in a biological sample from a subject,

wherein when CAMLs are detected in the biological sample, the diagnosis of cancer in the subject is confirmed.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising detecting CTCs in the biological sample, wherein when CAMLs and CTCs are detected in the biological sample, the subject is diagnosed with cancer.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the cells are isolated in (a) using size exclusion methodology.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the size exclusion methodology is use of a microfilter having pores ranging in size from 5 to 20 microns.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the cancer is breast, prostate, lung, pancreatic, or colorectal.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the blood is peripheral blood.

14. A method for monitoring efficacy of a cancer treatment, comprising (a) determining the number of CAMLs in a biological sample from a subject having cancer before treatment of the subject for cancer, and (b) comparing the number of CAMLs determined in (a) to a number of CAMLs determined from a similar biological sample from the same subject at one or more time points after cancer treatment, wherein the number of CAMLs in a biological sample is determining by:

(a) isolating intact cells of between 20 and 300 micron in size from blood obtained from a subject using a means selected from the group consisting of size exclusion methodology, immunocapture, red blood cell lysis, white blood cell depletion, FICOLL separation, electrophoresis, dielectrophoresis, flow cytometry, magnetic levitation, microfluidic chip, and a combination thereof, and

(b) selecting cells isolated in (a) having (i) a large atypical polyploid nucleus of about 14-64 μm in size or multiple nuclei, and (ii) a morphological shape selected from the group consisting of spindle, tadpole, round, oblong, two legs, more than two legs, thin legs, and amorphous,

to obtain CAMLs from the biological sample.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising (c) determining the number of CTCs in the biological sample of (a), and (d) comparing the number of CTCs determined in (c) to a number of CTCs determined from the biological sample of (b).

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the cells are isolated in (a) using size exclusion methodology.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the size exclusion methodology is use of a microfilter having pores ranging in size from 5 to 20 microns.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the cancer is breast, prostate, lung, pancreatic, or colorectal.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the blood is peripheral blood.

20. A method for detecting CAMLs in a biological sample from a subject, comprising:

(a) isolating intact cells of between 20 and 300 micron in size from blood obtained from a subject, and

(b) detecting cells isolated in (a) having (i) a large atypical polyploid nucleus of about 14-64 μm in size or multiple nuclei, and (ii) a morphological shape selected from the group consisting of spindle, tadpole, round, oblong, two legs, more than two legs, thin legs, and amorphous,

thereby detecting CAMLs in a biological sample from a subject.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the subject has cancer.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the cancer is carcinoma or solid tumor.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising detecting CTCs in the biological sample.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the cells are isolated in (a) using a means selected from the group consisting of size exclusion methodology, immunocapture, red blood cell lysis, white blood cell depletion, FICOLL separation, electrophoresis, dielectrophoresis, flow cytometry, magnetic levitation, microfluidic chip, and a combination thereof.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the size exclusion methodology is use of a microfilter having pores ranging in size from 5 to 20 microns.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein the blood is peripheral blood.