A new method for determining melanoma cells circulating in the blood can significantly improve the monitoring of cancer patients and direct them to further treatment.

Edith Cowan University melanoma research team, in collaboration with Harvard Medical School and clinicians in Western Australia hospitals, has discovered a new method for detecting circulating tumor cells (CTCs), which can provide a new way to diagnose and treat cancer.

This work is based on the continued success of the melanoma research team, which developed the world's first blood test that can detect melanoma in its early stages..

Lead researcher, associate professor Elin Gray, said this new step was the first study that comprehensively describes the huge diversity found in CTCs of melanoma..

“These preliminary results are the first step towards a new way to prevent the spread of melanoma throughout the body,” said Professor Gray.

“Cancer spreads throughout the body when CPCs are secreted from the primary tumor and pass through the blood, forming secondary tumors (metastases) in other organs. If we can find a way to reliably detect these cells, then we will have a chance to stop melanoma in its path with the help of a powerful diagnostic tool and, possibly, treatment options in the future. ”.

Like a needle in a haystack.

Until now, the melanoma CPC has been incredibly elusive, and detection rates have ranged from 40 to 87 percent.

Professor Gray said this ECU-led study explained why CPC is so hard to find..

“Now we understand that CTC detection cannot be resolved using the“ one size fits all ”approach, she said.

“There is a huge variety in the form and biological activity of these CPCs, and therefore they all look different and respond differently to the analyzes. To further complicate matters, CTC melanomas are hidden among thousands of other cells and substances in the blood.. One milliliter of blood often contains less than 10 cancer cells among one billion red blood cells and one million white blood cells. ”.

“It's a lot like finding a needle in a haystack.”.

New approach.

Armed with a better understanding of the complexity of the task, the researchers tried a multifaceted approach to detecting melanoma CPC.

“By combining the three analyzes together, we increased the detection rate to 72 percent, which was significantly and consistently higher than using a single test,” said Dr. Gray.

“We are confident that this approach is a step towards reliable detection of CTC, but now we need to configure the analysis to include the best combination to capture the widest range of CTC”.

ECU melanoma research team is currently working with artificial intelligence experts to speed up CTC identification.

med-heal. ru.