Establishment and Application of 3-Dimensional (3-D) Cell Culture Model of Clinical Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs)

In the 1st year research project, investigators will further validate and evaluate the clinical feasibility of using a 3-D cell culture model for CTCs isolation/purification and their cell number expansion. In the 2nd and 3rd year research project, investigators will optimize the 3-D cell culture model so as to increase the performances of CTC isolation/purification and proliferation. In the optimization process, investigators will explore the effect of cell culture model (e.g. static or perfusion cell culture, and 3-D cell culture using different 3-D scaffolding materials) or biochemical factors (e.g. glucose concentration, serum concentration, pH, or the supplements of growth factors/cytokines) on the the performances of CTC isolation/purification and proliferation.