Characterizing EMT-Linked Heterogeneity in Breast Cancer Circulating Tumor Cells at the Single-Cell Level

In this study, we evaluate gene expression patterns in single circulating tumour cells discovered in liquid biopsies from breast cancer patients. The experiment included cells collected from early, metastatic and relapsed breast cancer patients. Overall design: The cells were isolated using density gradient centrifugation and CD45-based immunomagnetic depletion. Immunofluorescently-stained cells were picked using micromanipulation (Eppendorf TransferMan 4r). Finally RNA was prepared for NGS using Smart-seq2 method and Nextera XT library protocol.