Advances in capture methods of circulating tumor cells

Since circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the blood carry the genetic and phenotypic information of tumor tissues, they are regarded as important markers for liquid biopsy, especially for the early diagnosis of cancer, determination of treatment options and evaluation of prognosis. However, the capture and detection of CTCs is challenging because of their extremely low concentration in blood. In this review, recent advances in capture methods of CTCs based on their biophysical properties, affinity, and artificial antibodies are summarized. The advantages and drawbacks of these methods are discussed from the aspects of capture efficiency, capture purity and maintenance of activity after release. Future trends in CTCs capture are also discussed.