Poster Presentation COSA 2015 ASM

Screening for Circulating Tumour Cells allows early detection of cancer  (#333)

Avni Sali 1 , Karin Ried 1 , Peter Eng 2 , Wolfgang Marz 3
  1. National Institute of Integrative Medicine, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia
  2. Eng Medical Centre, Melbourne
  3. Bond University, Melbourne

Background

Migration of Circulating Tumour Cells (CTC) into the bloodstream may be associated with early carcinogenesis, and can provide a biomarker for cancer progression and treatment effectiveness. An increase in CTCs in a patient’s bloodstream is associated with cancer progression, while a decrease in CTCs is associated with cancer containment or remission. Several technologies have been developed to identify CTC, including the isolation by filtration and analysis by microscopy using standard histo-pathological criteria.

Methods

The Isolation-by-Size-of-Epithelial-Tumour (ISET) technology (Rarecells, France) was established at NIIM to monitor treatment effectiveness in cancer patients and to screen for CTC in patients with a family history of cancer or clinical indication but no tumour mass. The ISET CTC has been validated in several studies and provides 100% specificity and 100% sensitivity.

Results

Between Sept-2014 and June-2015 we undertook 240 CTC tests, 93 (40%) were screening requests. CTC were detected in 43 (46%) of those patients screened, and follow-up tests including repeat CTC testing and scans were scheduled within 1-6 months of CTC results, in addition to lifestyle and nutritional advice provided. Repeat CTC testing of five patients revealed CTC reduction within an average of 5 months. In four patients with positive CTC counts and no detected tumour masses prior to CTC testing, follow-up scans revealed cancerous lesions in lung, breast (n=2), or prostate within 1, 2 or 6 months since CTC testing, respectively.

Conclusions

CTC screening provides a highly sensitive and specific tool for the early detection of patients at risk of developing cancer.