Use of circulating cell biomarkers in the blood for detection and diagnosis of diseases and methods of isolating them

Abstract

A new sensitive cell biomarker of solid tumors and viral infection is identified in blood. This biomarker can be used to determine presence of carcinomas, sarcomas, and viruses, rapid determination of treatment response, early detection of cancer, early detection of cancer recurrence, and may be used to determine therapy.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A companion diagnostic method for screening selected drug target markers in Cancer Associated Macrophage-Like cells (CAMLs) and/or circulating tumor cells (CTCs) comprising collecting CAMLs and/or CTCs from a biological sample from a subject and determining whether the CAMLs and/or CTCs express or possess a selected drug target marker. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selected drug target marker is a cell surface marker. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the cell surface marker is PD-L1. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selected drug target marker is a polynucleotide. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selected drug target marker is a genetic mutation, amplification or translocation.