COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR ISOLATING CIRCULATING CELLS

The invention generally relates to compositions and methods for isolating circulating cells. In one aspect, the invention provides a method for isolating one or more target cells in a biological fluid of a subject, the method comprising: selectively providing to the one or more target cells an effective amount of at least one iron saccharide complex or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof; and isolating the target cells using a magnetic source capable of generating a magnetic field effective to capture target cells containing a magnetically responsive intracellular concentration of the of at least one iron saccharide complex or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof in the magnetic field. In further aspects, the method can comprise treating the target cell will one or more cancer treatments. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.