A collaborative team from National Tsing Hua University and Taipei Veterans General Hospital has developed the CellEnvision SACA system, which utilizes a proprietary microfluidic single-cell array chip combined with advanced imaging analysis of circulating tumor microemboli (CTM). This system overcomes the limitations of conventional detection by identifying CTM clusters, single tumor cells, and CTM-immune cell complexes from just 2 cc of blood, providing a precise method for recurrence risk monitoring in colorectal cancer (CRC).

Key Advantages and Achievements

• High Sensitivity for Recurrence Prediction
  Compared to conventional surveillance based solely on serum marker CEA, the SACA system integrates four indicators — CTM cluster presence, CTM count, CEA, and CA199 — which collectively improve one-year recurrence prediction accuracy by up to eight-fold in CRC patients. Notably, patients with high levels in all four markers exhibited a near 100% recurrence rate
  (Source: innoaward.taiwan-healthcare.org).

• Proprietary Chip Design and Patented Platform
  The SACA chip and CTM imaging analysis platform were developed entirely in-house and have demonstrated strong technical potential. The system has been granted U.S. Patent No. US 11,547,999 B2.

• Clinical Validation and Commercialization
  Over 500 clinical cases have been validated, and the results were published in Translational Research in July 2023. The technology was transferred to a spin-off startup, CellEnvision Biomed, which has completed the first commercial system sale and secured NT$20 million in angel investment.

Expert Endorsement and Future Outlook

Review committee members recognized the system’s integration of innovative chip design and imaging platform, citing its strong potential for colorectal cancer recurrence monitoring and expansion into other cancer screening applications (Source: innoaward.taiwan-healthcare.org). Looking ahead, the team plans to develop a fully integrated diagnostic workflow and build a distinctive brand presence in the precision oncology market.