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Fluxion Biosciences, Inc. announced that it has launched a new imaging system, the IsoFlux Cytation Imager, designed to work exclusively with the IsoFlux Liquid Biopsy System and CTC Enumeration Kit. The IsoFlux Cytation Imager comes pre-configured with all components and software required for automated CTC image acquisition.
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) disseminate from primary tumors and enter the peripheral bloodstream. Ongoing access to cancer tissue represents one of the most significant challenges in characterizing cancer, and CTCs can alleviate this limitation by providing frequent, minimally-invasive access to cancer tissue via a blood draw. The IsoFlux System uses blood to perform a real-time "liquid biopsy" of the patient's cancer using the recovered CTCs, which can involve analysis of DNA, RNA, and proteins.
In the research setting, detection of CTCs by protein staining and imaging on an automated microscope is a common workflow, but the cost and complexity of inverted microscopes limit their utility in many labs. The IsoFlux Cytation Imager addresses this limitation by incorporating all components of a high-end microscope into an easy-to-use plate reader-style package. Based on industry-leading imagers from BioTek Instruments, Inc., the IsoFlux Cytation Imager is equipped with an automated stage, autofocus, high-resolution camera, 3-color fluorescence, and the necessary objectives for rapid sample scanning and image capture. Additionally, the imager includes an optional fluorescent channel for detecting protein markers, such as AR-V7 for prostate cancer.
According to Fluxion's CTO, Dr. Cristian Ionescu-Zanetti, the IsoFlux Cytation Imager will be of great value in clinical research. "This new imager can scan an entire sample in less than 10 minutes, and retains the ability to detect additional protein biomarkers using a 4th fluorescence channel. The automated identification of putative CTCs is another big improvement, reducing the total time required per sample by over 3x as compared to automated microscopes. Use of the IsoFlux Cytation Imager will accelerate clinical studies where CTC enumeration, protein marker detection, and cell-based analysis are important readouts."
The IsoFlux Cytation Imager (part number 930-0375) is available immediately and can be used with all existing IsoFlux systems and kits without modification.
