It offers life-saving insight.
A recent phase 3 clinical trial has revealed that a simple blood test measuring circulating tumor cell (CTC) counts may help determine the best treatment options for men with advanced prostate cancer. CTCs, which are rare cancer cells shed into the bloodstream by tumors, have typically been studied only in late-stage cancer contexts. This new research focuses on using CTC counts at the initial diagnosis of metastatic prostate cancer to predict patient outcomes and the effectiveness of treatments.
Dr. Amir Goldkorn, the lead author of the study from USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, emphasized that previous studies had not examined CTC counts at the onset of metastatic prostate cancer. The trial found that men with higher levels of CTCs in their blood had shorter median survival times and an increased risk of mortality. This indicates that these patients may respond poorly to standard treatment and may see their disease progress more quickly.
Using the widely available CellSearch blood test, researchers analyzed blood samples from 503 men with metastatic prostate cancer participating in a new drug trial. The findings revealed that patients with five or more CTCs faced significantly worse outcomes. They were more than three times as likely to die during the study period compared to those without CTCs, and nearly 2.5 times more likely to experience disease progression.
Furthermore, the study showed that men with higher CTC counts had a reduced likelihood of achieving a complete response in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, which is an important measure of treatment effectiveness. Specifically, those with five or more CTCs had a median survival of just 27.9 months, whereas those with no CTCs had a median survival exceeding 78 months.
Published on October 7 in JAMA Network Open, the research suggests that measuring CTC levels at the beginning of treatment can be a valuable tool in predicting long-term survival outcomes. Dr. Goldkorn highlighted the potential to improve clinical trials by selecting patients who would benefit the most from aggressive treatment options. His team is also exploring a new blood test that examines the molecular characteristics of CTCs and tumor DNA, aiming to identify additional biomarkers that could provide better prognostic insights.
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