Blood testing for CTCs

The prostate specific antigen test that is widely used to detect prostate cancer is famously inaccurate.  For that reason, researchers at Queen Mary University (London) have developed a method for capturing circulating tumor cells from blood.  “The new blood test utilizes a technology called “Parsortix” which is designed to measure circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in small blood samples. Over 250 subjects were tested using this CTC method, and the researchers found, when combined with the PSA test, aggressive prostate cancer could be effectively detected with around 90 percent accuracy.  Even more importantly, the research found the aggressiveness of the prostate cancer could be measured by examining the number and type of CTCs in a given blood sample. This is perhaps the most significant element of the new test as it may allow doctors to track the progress of a prostate tumor, avoiding unnecessary biopsies or invasive treatments.”      MORE

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