Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are cancer cells that shed from tumors and circulate through the bloodstream. The document discusses CTCs and various methods used to detect and isolate them. CTCs were first observed in 1869 and are found at very low frequencies (1-10 cells per ml of blood) in patients with metastatic cancer. Due to their rarity and heterogeneity, detecting and identifying CTCs is challenging. The document outlines several techniques used for CTC detection and isolation, including the CellSearch method, nano-particle adherence methods, and microfluidic chips. Emerging microfluidic technologies are improving CTC yields and characterization, with the goal of using CTCs as biomarkers and therapeutic targets