Researchers have developed a test that may soon allow doctors to track the progress of lung cancer tumors in "real time." A sophisticated device allows doctors to detect and isolate the few circulating tumor cells that travel through the blood stream, which can then provide information about the main tumor's growth and its response to medication.
As tumors grow, a handful of cancer cells may peel away and slip into the blood, [study author Daniel] Haber says. While few in number — with about one cancer cell for every 1 billion blood cells — these cells can be deadly if they settle in other parts of the body and form new tumors, a process called metastasis. Until now, doctors have never been able to easily analyze them
[USA Today].
Now doctors will be able to conduct a genetic analysis of the free-floating tumor cells, allowing doctors to tailor their treatment ...
