Microfluidic technology and its application in the detection of circulating tumor cells / 中华检验医学杂志

ABSTRACT

In recent years , the potential clinical value of circulating tumor cells ( CTCs ) is more obvious, and a myriad of detection methods for CTCs have been developed .Among them, a series of microfluidic devices are particularly promising as they uniquely offer micro-scale analytical systems that are highlighted by low consumption of samples and reagents , high flexibility to accommodate other cutting-edge technologies , precise and well-defined flow behaviors , and automation capability , presenting themselves significant advantages over the conventional larger systems .Here, a brief review of the recent advances in the CTC detection by microfluidic devices and their challenges in clinical application will be given .