ANGLE plc, a frontrunner in liquid biopsy technology, has unveiled its latest innovation, the Portrait Flex CTC assay - a cutting-edge diagnostic tool that could revolutionise the field of oncology research and diagnostics.
Circulating tumour cells (CTCs) are rogue cells that have broken away from a primary tumour and circulate in the bloodstream.
Detecting and analysing these cells can provide invaluable insights into the nature and progression of cancer in a patient.
ANGLE's new assay, provided as a service by its Onc-ADaPT laboratories, harnesses the power of the company's proprietary Parsortix technology to capture and study these elusive cells.
Once captured, the Portrait Flex assay delves deeper, using advanced immunofluorescence staining techniques to identify specific markers on the CTCs.
This allows for a more detailed understanding of the cancer, including its potential response to treatments. Notably, the assay can be tailored to detect specific biomarkers, depending on the needs of the patient or the research in question.
In recent tests, the Portrait Flex assay demonstrated impressive accuracy, with a sensitivity of over 93% and a specificity of over 95%.
Furthermore, in a study involving metastatic breast cancer patients, the assay identified CTCs in a significant majority, providing crucial information about the current status of the disease in these individuals.
One of the standout features of the Portrait Flex assay is its ability to detect both epithelial and mesenchymal markers.
This is crucial as it provides a more comprehensive picture of the cancer's nature.
For instance, in the aforementioned study, some patients exhibited only mesenchymal markers, while others displayed a combination, underscoring the versatility of the Parsortix system.
By merging the capabilities of the Parsortix technology with the Portrait Flex assay, ANGLE is paving the way for more personalised and precise cancer diagnostics.
This integrated approach promises to significantly enhance clinical trial evaluations, bringing the dream of precision medicine one step closer to reality for countless patients.