Abstract: The invention encompasses methods and devices for diagnosing, theranosing, or prognosing a condition in a patient by enriching a sample in rare cells. The devices can be a microfluidic device comprising an array of obstacles and one or more binding moieties. The devices and methods can allow for enrichment of cells based on size and affinity, recovery of cells in locations on the microfluidic device, release of cells from the microfluidic device, flow of sample through the microfluidic device, and retention of rare cells from a sample obtained from a patient having a condition.

Abstract: The invention encompasses methods for diagnosing, theranosing, or prognosing a condition in a patient based on the results of one or more analysis methods. The methods can comprise enriching a sample obtained from the patient for one or more rare cells. The analysis methods can include performing enumeration of the one or more rare cells or cell subtypes, performing nucleic acid analysis, or detecting a serum marker.