Genetic profiling of tumours using both circulating free DNA and circulating tumour cells isolated from the same preserved whole blood sample

Molecular information obtained from cancer patients' blood is an emerging and powerful research tool with immense potential as a companion diagnostic for patient stratification and monitoring. Blood, which can be sampled routinely, provides a means of inferring the current genetic status of patients' tumours via analysis of circulating tumour cells (CTCs) or circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA). However, accurate assessment of both CTCs and ctDNA requires all blood cells to be maintained intact until samples are processed.

Source: Molecular Oncology - November 19, 2015 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Dominic G. Rothwell, Nigel Smith, Daniel Morris, Hui Sun Leong, Yaoyong Li, Antoine Hollebecque, Mahmood Ayub, Louise Carter, Jenny Antonello, Lynsey Franklin, Crispin Miller, Fiona Blackhall, Caroline Dive, Ged Brady Source Type: research