Article and Video CATEGORIES

Cancer Journey

Search By

Lung Cancer Video Library - Blood-Based Mutation Testing: Circulating Tumor Cells and Tumor DNA
Wed, 01/20/2016 - 06:00
Author
GRACE Videos and Articles
Image
Dr. Ed Kim from the Levine Cancer Institute reviews the potential advantages and current limitations of blood-based testing for molecular markers using circulating tumor cells and circulating tumor DNA in identifying clinically important mutations.

 

Transcript

We know there are challenges in trying to obtain biopsies, especially when you’ve already been diagnosed and had treatment, and then the tumor stops responding to the therapy that’s given. We like to do repeat biopsies because we know that the tumor can change over time, after being exposed to different types of therapies. That can sometimes be challenging, and add some risk to patients because it is an invasive procedure — many times we use a needle that will go through the chest, into the tumor, to try and extract enough tissue to make these measurements. Emerging technology that has really been very popular the last few years has been trying to utilize your blood to measure these markers. You’ll hear terminologies like circulating tumor cells, or CTCs, circulating DNA — a lot of different things that are measuring, trying to identify things in your blood that may be representative of your tumor in your chest, or your liver, or where it may be.

One of the technologies is called circulating tumor cells — in this, you are actually trying to isolate these cancer cells in the blood. Some of the technologies are cell search systems, in which you isolate, what we call, through a filter, these tumor cells — that is a bit challenging, it has been inconsistent with some of the results. Also, circulating cell-free DNA is another technology — this, again, is trying to measure small pieces of DNA that are shed from the tumor, and it’s a little easier to pick up that, as opposed to actual, whole cancer cells, in the bloodstream.

There are some commercial tests out there — Guardant360 is one of them, that’s based, again, on the technologies discussed in the NGS section, that would be next-gen sequencing, and also OncoBEAM or Sysmex Inostics — these are also commercial tests, and I can tell you there are many more that are coming. Right now, I would not view them, necessarily, as your first choice, over getting a tumor biopsy. However, a lot of the quality analytics that have been done have shown that they can measure almost as accurately in the bloodstream, using these technologies, as one would taking tumor tissue through a procedure, using an interventional procedure like a bronchoscopy or interventional radiology.

 

Video Language

Next Previous link

Previous PostNext Post

Related Content

Image
Mandarin LCVL
Video
王林医生用普通话讨论重要的肺癌信息。这些信息包括靶向治疗、晚期疾病的症状、循环肿瘤 DNA、治疗方案等。我们鼓励您与社区中说普通话的人分享。 Dr. Lin Wang discusses important lung cancer information in Mandarin. This information includes targeted therapy, symptoms of advanced disease, circulating tumor DNA, treatment options, and more. We encourage you to share this with the Mandarin speakers in your community. To watch the complete Playlist visit: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWsyUmdjLXhGnSxobmz4CBP3pxAj7nDa…;  
Image
Tell your story!  Apply now for the Clinical Trials Experiences through Storytelling Program
Article
We are excited to launch our third year of this program; tell your story and help us help others! Apply Online Now!     GRACE Patient Perspectives: Clinical Trials Experiences Storytelling Program Overview  
Image
Blood Cancer OncTalk
Video
Blood Cancer OncTalk was a live presentation that brought together top oncologists to discuss emerging concepts and treatment options in blood cancer. The program was chaired by Dr. Aaron Goodman, with the participation of Dr. Mazie Tsang, Hematologist / Oncologist; Dr. Autumn Jeong, Hematologist / Oncologist; Dr. Shaji Kumar, Hematologist / Oncologist; and Dr. Sridevi Rajeeve, Hematologist / Oncologist.

Forum Discussions

Hi Caregiver and welcome to Grace.  I'm sorry that you need to be here and hope we can help.  Osimertinib has better efficacy than gefitinib (including OS and reaching the brain)...

Hi Bob, Welcome to Grace.  I'm sorry about your sil.  Unfortunately, cancer becomes resistant to TKIs like tagrisso.  Sometimes all of the cancer becomes resistant at once and sometimes just parts...

Recent Comments

JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Hi Tammy,  Welome to Grace. …
By JanineT GRACE … on Tue, 05/16/2023 - 13:44
Concerned
By Tndiuka10 on Fri, 05/12/2023 - 21:13
Hi Caregiver and welcome to…
By JanineT GRACE … on Fri, 05/12/2023 - 14:20
Hi Bob, Welcome to Grace.  I…
By JanineT GRACE … on Tue, 05/02/2023 - 12:29