The current gold standard for the diagnosis and treatment of solid tumors is the collection of a tissue biopsy from the tumor site. Mutation tracking in tumor DNA and the prediction of the risk of metastatic relapse is a challenge in modern cancer therapy.

The investigation of liquid biopsies from whole blood samples is a promising new and noninvasive way to determine the required information for cancer management. Besides the analysis of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) the isolation and identification of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) has increasingly come into focus in this context.

One successful approach for patients with metastatic breast cancer, prostate cancer or colorectal cancer is the enumeration of circulating tumor cells (CTC) of epithelial origin in whole blood with the CELLSEARCH® CTC Test. With this semi-automated technology, it is possible to identify one CTC present in a whole blood sample of 7.5 mL volume.

As a central laboratory specialized on international clinical trials, LKF offers the analysis of CTCs with this first and only clinically validated and FDA-cleared test. Using the CellSave preservative tubes for blood collection, circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are stable for up to 96 hours at ambient temperatures allowing a shipment of whole blood samples from remote locations to LKFs central laboratory.

With the CELLSEARCH® CTC system, LKF provides a convenient, standardized and reliable technology for the monitoring of cancer treatment efficacy to our clients dealing with clinical trials on advanced therapies in oncology.