Imaging cytometry for counting circulating tumor cells: comparative analysis of the CellSearch vs ImageStream systems.

Circulating tumor cell (CTC) enumeration is important clinically for identifying prognostic and predictive factors in patients with solid cancers. The CellSearch device (Veridex) is an immunomagnetic CTC selection and enumeration system used in clinical practice. The ImageStream (Amnis) combines the strengths of flow cytometry and fluorescent microscopy in a single platform and has potential application for CTC counting.