Autocrine PDGF stimulation in malignancies

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) isoforms are important mitogens for different types of mesenchymal cells, which have important functions during the embryonal development and in the adult during wound healing and tissue homeostasis. In tumors, PDGF isoforms are often over-expressed and contribute to the growth of both normal and malignant cells. This review focuses on tumors expressing PDGF isoforms together with their tyrosine kinase receptors, thus resulting in autocrine stimulation of growth and survival. Patients with such tumors could benefit from treatment with inhibitors of either PDGF or PDGF receptors

Microfluidic platform for detecting circulating leukemic cells: Analysis of minimum residual disease in acute myeloid leukemia as a case example

We report an integrated microfluidic system for isolating and analyzing circulating leukemic cells (CLCs) from peripheral blood to provide for sensitive minimum residual disease (MRD) diagnostics for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Microfluidic devices isolate CLCs in microchannels coated with cellspecific antibodies (Abs), which are immobilized onto cleavable linkers. After immunostaining on-chip, linker cleavage releases CLCs to provide for single-cell impedance detection and immunophenotyping in a novel micro multi-parameter flow cytometer (??MFC). All microfluidic devices are integrated to a fluidic motherboard for automated operation that controls fluid distribution. ?? 14CBMS