Therapeutic Apheresis Using a β2-Microglobulin Removal Column Reduces Circulating Tumor Cell Count

TL;DR

A new apheresis treatment using a β2M removal column reduces cancer metastasis by lowering circulating tumor cells and β2M levels.

Contribution

Demonstrates that therapeutic apheresis with Filtor reduces β2M and CTCs, potentially preventing cancer metastasis.

Findings

Therapeutic apheresis with Filtor significantly lowered serum β2M levels and CTC counts in cancer patients.

Immediate post-treatment CTC reduction suggests Filtor may directly trap circulating tumor cells.

Lowered β2M and CTC levels persisted for 4 weeks after treatment.

Abstract

An elevated serum β2-microglobulin (β2M) level is indicative of impaired glomerular filtration and prerenal diseases, such as malignant tumors, autoimmune disorders, and liver diseases. An elevated serum β2M level has been shown to promote metastasis via the induction of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) in cancer cells. However, the therapeutic potential of targeting β2M remains unclear. Here, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of Filtor, a small polymethyl methacrylate fiber-based β2M removal column, in reducing the β2M level and suppressing cancer cell-induced EMT and metastasis. We assessed the effects of Filtor on the changes in metastasis based on the number of circulating tumor cells (CTCs), which reflects the post-EMT cancer cell population. We performed therapeutic apheresis using Filtor on a male patient with sinonasal neuroendocrine carcinoma, a female patient with a history of colorectal cancer, and another female patient with a history of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Significantly low serum β2M levels and CTC counts were observed immediately and 4 weeks after treatment compared with those in the pretreatment phase. Moreover, the CTC count immediately after therapeutic intervention was markedly reduced, likely because Filtor had trapped CTCs directly. These findings suggest that therapeutic apheresis with Filtor can prevent cancer metastasis and recurrence by directly removing CTCs.

Figures