Promising Method For Early Diagnosis Of Cancer.
A collaboration of US scientists and individual companies are looking into a investigation that could consider even one stray cancer room among the billions of cells that circulate in the human bloodstream. The trust is that one day such a test, given soon after a treatment is started, could indicate whether the cure is working or not. It might even indicate beforehand which healing would be most effective tablet. The test relies on circulating tumor cells (CTCs) - cancer cells that have cut off from the main tumor and are traveling to other parts of the body.
In 2007, researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital, developed a "microfluidic chip," called CellSearch, which could calculate the integer of isolated cancer cells, but that test didn't permit scientists to trap whole cells and analyze them. But on Monday, Mass General announced an concurrence with Veridex LLC, corner of Johnson & Johnson, to office a newer version of the test.
According to the Associated Press, the updated exam requires only a couple of teaspoons of blood. The microchip is dotted with tens of thousands of itsy-bitsy posts covered with antibodies designed to attach to tumor cells. As blood passes over the chip, tumor cells away from the pack and adhere to the posts.