CTC (circulating tumor cells) are an emerging biomarker found in the blood. Sometimes, cancer cells break free from tumors or metastasis and find themselves circulating in the blood.
These cells are obtained through liquid biopsies and they offer a real-time look into the cancer’s characteristics.
CTCs can be helpful when understanding what's driving metastasis and how a patient is/isn’t responding to treatment. CTCs are rare and can be challenging to capture. However, there is an FDA-cleared CTC test used alongside other tools to predict survival and monitor treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer patients.
Research studies are also evaluating the use of CTCs for gastric, esophageal and pancreatic patients.
