ANGLE PLC (AIM:AGL, OTCQX:ANPCY), the liquid biopsy and cancer diagnostics specialist, has hailed a study that could change the way doctors monitor and treat breast cancer.
Published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, the evaluation shows that ANGLE's Parsortix system is better at detecting disseminated tumour cells (DTCs) in bone marrow than the current standard lab method.
Researchers from the University of Tübingen in Germany used the Parsortix system to test bone marrow samples from 360 breast cancer patients.
They found that the system was not only easier to use but also detected more DTCs that were alive and undamaged. This is crucial because these cells can be further analysed to help doctors decide the best treatment for each patient.
DTCs are cancer cells that have spread from the original tumour to other parts of the body, like the bone marrow. These cells can stay dormant for a long time and are often the reason why some patients experience a relapse even after they've been in remission.
One-third of breast cancer sufferers already have DTCs in their bone marrow at the time of diagnosis.
These patients, along with those who continue to have DTCs, face a higher risk of poor outcomes. The Parsortix system's ability to effectively detect these cells means doctors could better tailor treatments to individual patients, reducing the risk of relapse.
This study marks a significant step forward in breast cancer research and treatment, offering a more effective way to detect cells that can lead to relapse. It opens the door for more personalised treatment plans and a better understanding of the disease.