Cancer remains one of the most pressing global health challenges of the 21st century. According to the World Health Organization, the number of new cancer cases worldwide is projected to rise from 20 million in 2022 to over 30 million by 2040, fueled by aging populations, lifestyle changes, and environmental factors.
Traditional diagnostic methods—such as imaging and tissue biopsies—often fall short in detecting cancer at its most treatable stage. They are invasive, expensive, and sometimes fail to capture the complexity and variability of tumors. In this landscape, non-invasive blood-based diagnostics are emerging as game-changers, offering hope for earlier, faster, and more accessible cancer detection.
At the forefront of this revolution is Creatv MicroTech. What began as a microfabrication services firm has evolved into a pioneer in precision oncology, changing how cancer is detected and monitored through its groundbreaking LifeTracDx® blood test.
The Growth Trajectory
Founded in 1996 in Maryland, Creatv MicroTech originally provided microfabrication services for various applications. In 2000, it reincorporated in Delaware and expanded into biodetection, initially working on tools to detect pathogens like anthrax and E. coli. The turning point came when a client approached them to develop a microfilter capable of collecting circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from blood. The project was completed, but the client eventually opted for a different supplier. With the innovative CellSieve™ microfilter in hand, Creatv decided to pursue cancer research on its own.
This pivot transformed the company’s trajectory to cancer diagnostics led to the creation of Creatv Bio Division, now the company’s primary focus.
A Scientific Breakthrough
In 2012, Daniel L. Adams, now Chief Scientific Officer of Creatv MicroTech, noticed unusual large cells in blood samples from cancer patients—cells other researchers had seen but dismissed. Adams decided to study them systematically, leading to a landmark discovery. He published the first paper on those cells in 2014 in PNAS. These cells turned out to be crucial indicators of cancer presence and progression. He found a whole spectrum of clinical applications of those cells.
This discovery positioned Creatv as an innovator in the oncology space. “Our research on those strange giant cells got recognition. The First International Conference on Polyploidy Giant Cancer Cells: Biology and Clinical Applications was held at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center on February 16-17, 2024. We believe in results based on scientific data, and it paid off.”
LifeTracDx®: A Comprehensive Blood Test for Cancer
The result of years of research and development, LifeTracDx® is a revolutionary blood test that captures and analyzes both circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and Cancer Associated Macrophage-like Cells (CAMLs) using the proprietary CellSieve™ microfilter.
LifeTracDx® blood test is believed to be applicable to a spectrum of cancer diagnostics and screening applications benefiting the cancer patients under treatment by oncologists.
- Screening & Early Detection: LifeTracDx® may detect cancer in patients with no prior history, across all stages and in multiple organs.
- Monitoring Treatment Response: Within just 30 days of therapy initiation, the test may determine whether the treatment is working—eliminating months of uncertainty compared to waiting on imaging results.
- Detecting Recurrence: CAMLs may identify recurrence long before tumors become large enough to appear on scans, enabling earlier intervention.
- Companion Diagnostics: LifeTracDx® may identify tumor markers like PD-L1 through blood, helping oncologists decide whether a patient is a candidate for targeted or immunotherapy—without needing invasive biopsies.
- Real-time insights into cancer aggressiveness: LifeTracDx® may determine the aggressiveness of the patient’s cancer at any time. Many features of CAMLs and CTCs captured on the filter provide useful information.
- Genetic Sequencing: LifeTracDx® may provide numerous copies of unfragmented tumor DNA for sequencing mutations, amplifications and deletions. CAMLs appear to provide much higher quality DNA than short fragments of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in blood.
Detecting a Broad Spectrum of Cancers
One of the most remarkable aspects of the LifeTracDx® blood test appears to be its universal applicability across cancer types. Creatv Bio has analyzed patient samples from over 30 types of cancer, including both solid tumors and blood cancers. In all these cases, the test has successfully identified similar looking Cancer-Associated Macrophage-like Cells (CAMLs).
While the presence of CAMLs is a common thread across cancer types, their quantity and characteristics vary by cancer. For instance, late-stage lung cancer patients typically exhibit 4–5 CAMLs per blood sample, whereas late-stage breast cancer patients may have as many as 50 to 100 CAMLs.
By detecting CAMLs alongside CTCs, LifeTracDx® may offer a more complete picture of cancer presence and progression—regardless of the tumor’s origin—making it a uniquely versatile tool in the fight against cancer.
Overcoming Challenges
Developing LifeTracDx® test was not challenging for Creatv. The main hurdle was in training personnel to read the cells on CellSieveTM slides and identify CAMLs and CTCs accurately. To address this, Creatv is now working on AI-powered image analysis, aiming to automate and scale the test globally.
What’s Next: Goals and Vision
Creatv Bio plans to apply for FDA approvals for both treatment specific diagnostics and broad-based cancer prognosis, beginning with specific cancers and expanding gradually to all solid tumors. The team also aims to secure insurance and Medicare reimbursement, which will be critical for widespread adoption.
“Currently, there is no other blood test can provide the cancer diagnostic information that LifeTracDx® test can provide. Our ultimate goal is to get the LifeTracDx® information out to oncologists so they can provide better treatment of their patients,” – Cha-Mei Tang, CEO.
