Discovery and characterization of circulating tumor cell clusters in neuroendocrine tumor patients using nanosubstrate-embedded microchips.

Circulating tumor cell (CTC) clusters are present in cancer patients with severe metastasis, resulting in poor clinical outcomes. However, CTC clusters have not been studied as extensively as single CTCs, and the clinical utility of CTC clusters remains largely unknown. In this study, we aim sought to explore the feasibility of NanoVelcro Chips to simultaneously detect both single CTCs and CTC clusters with negligible perturbation to their intrinsic properties in neuroendocrine tumors (NETs).

A human ACTH-secreting corticotroph tumoroid model: Novel Human ACTH-Secreting Tumor Cell in vitro Model.

Background: Cushing disease (CD), although rare, is a life-threatening disorder caused by an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-secreting pituitary adenoma, which leads to excess adrenal-derived cortisol. Efficacious and safe medical therapies that control both hormonal hypersecretion and pituitary corticotroph tumor growth remain an unmet need in the management of CD. Translational research in pituitary tumors has been significantly hampered by limited quantities of surgically resected tissue for ex vivo studies, and unavailability of human pituitary tumor cell models.