Oncology
“Finding cancer cells in the peripheral circulation is a sign of the presence and/or metastasis of cancer.” This statement has been a guiding idea since 1869, when Thomas Ashworth first described tumour cells in the peripheral circulation. Since then, the existence and clinical significance of circulating tumour cells have been debated, because cancers are heterogeneous formations comprising several cell subpopulations, and only cells called cancer stem cells drive disease progression, treatment resistance and recurrence. The introduction of sensitive and specific immunohistochemical methods in the late 1970s, along with the discovery of biological markers specific to individual cancer types, opened a new chapter in non-invasive diagnosis of malignant diseases, called Liquid Biopsy.
The basic principle of Liquid Biopsy is to detect circulating tumour cells (CTCs) that have detached from the primary cancer and entered blood or lymphatic circulation, forming a secondary tumour. Despite their rarity, these cells display metastatic attributes and are associated with cancer progression. Through this information, Liquid Biopsy offers the possibility of detecting early signs of cancer development, helping monitor existing cancer, and creating an individual profile of chemotherapy medicines and natural substances that may be used to achieve the best treatment outcome. Following global scientific developments, Poliklinika Analiza, in collaboration with the R.G.C.C. group, which specialises in medical genetics and particularly cancer genetics, introduced Liquid Biopsy and offered a range of tests.
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The tests are divided into two main groups:
Monitoring tests: intended to assess the risk of recurrence and monitor the patient’s condition during and after treatment
- Oncocount: provides information about the presence and number of CTCs, an important parameter for monitoring disease status and detecting early recurrence
- Oncotrail: a test intended to monitor specific cancer groups, such as breast, prostate, lung, colorectal cancer, melanoma and sarcoma
- Oncotrace: helps identify the primary cancer if it has not yet been found despite the clinical presentation
Monitoring tests are not intended to diagnose brain cancers or encapsulated cancers that do not release tumour cells into the bloodstream.
Tests are performed every three months during the first year, then every six months.
Tests assessing the effectiveness of chemotherapy medicines and/or natural substances:
- Onconomics: effectiveness of cytotoxic medicines
- Onconomics Plus: effectiveness of cytotoxic medicines and natural substances
- Onconomics Extracts: effectiveness of natural substances
The following tests are also available:
- Metastat: a test detecting a cancer’s metastatic potential
- Immune Frame: a test assessing cellular and humoral immunity
- ChemoSNiP: a test investigating SNP genes involved in the metabolism/detoxification of cytotoxic or targeted medicines used for treatment
All tests use a blood sample submitted to the laboratory with the necessary documentation and a referral completed by the treating oncologist. Results are available within 7-10 days, with possible online support from R.G.C.C. specialists.
Just as every patient is an individual, every cancer also has its own identity.
The introduction of Liquid Biopsy has opened up two major possibilities: avoiding invasive procedures such as surgery, for example when imaging shows cancer shrinkage after treatment but signs of residual tissue remain and surgery reveals that the remaining tissue is scar tissue rather than cancer; and discontinuing unsuccessful treatment earlier to spare the patient side effects and disease progression. Personalised treatment therefore becomes essential for improving success rates in treating malignant diseases.
Contact us for free consultations.
Rijeka
Zadar
Onconomics Plus
Onconomics
Onconomics Extracts
Metastat
Oncotrace
Oncotrail
Oncocount
