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ANGLE liquid biopsy crucial to prostate cancer breakthrough

Last updated: 15:26 15 Jun 2017 BST, First published: 07:26 15 Jun 2017 BST

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The advance may allow doctors tailor treatment for patients with the killer disease

Med-tech firm ANGLE PLC (LON:AGL,OTCQX:ANPCY) saw its shares leap today on news its liquid biopsy test has been pivotal in a breakthrough that could transform the treatment of prostate cancer.

The group said the Parsortix system, which is used to harvest circulating tumour cells (CTCs) from the blood stream associated with cancer, helped researchers from the Queen Mary University of London's Barts Cancer Institute (BCI) find two rare cells.

The first is known as a megakaryocyte and the BCI team was able to link its presence to patients who lived longer after being diagnosed with the killer disease. Parsortix was also able harvest mesenchymal CTCs, which are linked to a poor outcomes.

WATCH: ANGLE's Andrew Newland on 'very exciting' liquid biopsy breakthrough

The BCI study of 40 people found that combining these two factors enabled the identification of patients who are 10-times more likely to die of their disease in the short-term. 

That may sound depressing, but armed with this knowledge doctors may be able to develop targeted treatments, potentially improving patient outcomes.

"This is a key breakthrough for ANGLE's Parsortix system showing further unique capabilities to harvest both rare megakaryocyte cells and mesenchymal CTCs in patient blood that play an essential role in the process of metastasis, which is responsible for over 90% of cancer deaths worldwide,” said ANGLE founder and chief executive Andrew Newland. 

“The findings of this study are of great medical potential, demonstrating an ability to identify patients most at risk of aggressive prostate cancer and a higher rate of mortality and consequently most in need of intensive treatment."

In late afternoon trading, ANGLE shares were up 17.7%, or 11,25p at  74.75p.

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