Is Circulating Tumour Cells testing useful for detecting micro and macro metastases?

[shubhac]

CTC testing is being advertised by Datar Genetics Ltd who claim full diagnostic value for it. Is it really useful to check for recurrence?

[streamer]

I did enquire about this test before I began Chemo. My doc said that CTC is still in the research phase and not yet implemented.

[ryan2000]

CTC is being commonly utilised and applied in patient management in the western countries. indeed it is a research tool. but to tell you the truth....even the NCCN guidelines the so called "bible of cancer" for oncologist mentions that the best treatment for any cancer lies in the clinical trial!!!!

strange isn't it. well clinicians in the west encourage their patients to enroll in the clinical trials in the hope to get the best treatment for their patients. rather for something like CTC i can say they are aware. regarding this can we be sure of clinicians in india?

[shubhac in reply to ryan2000]

ryan2000, thanks for your comment. It does seem CTC is still in research stage and not a mainstream test.

Regarding clinical trials, I can only say that clinical trials are just that - they are "trials", so that you may benefit with one, or it may prove to be of no significant efficacy, or - worse - it may give rise to bad side-effects. One reason the enrolment for trials is comparatively less in India seems to be fewer number of Indian drug firms into cancer research. So clinicians have smaller chances to direct patients towards trials.

[sumeet_shah Administrator]

CTC's are a step in the right direction, but, as shubhac said above, presently, even in western countries, they are only in a trial setup and not as a routine. It may take some time for them to reach the mainstream, AFTER trials do prove that they are useful.