La técnica descrita en el estudio utiliza una nueva tecnología, llamada CellSearch, que permite aislar y caracterizar estas células tumorales. Los investigadores señalan que identificar el número de células tumorales circulantes en cáncer de mama metastásico, especialmente en el primer seguimiento después de comenzar un nuevo tratamiento, puede proporcionar una indicación rápida y de confianza acerca de la eficacia del tratamiento. Actualmente se debe esperar entre tres y cuatro meses para saber si una terapia funciona.
En el estudio con 177 mujeres con cáncer de mama registraron que en cerca de la mitad el cáncer presentaba metástasis o diseminación, y que la progresión era mayor en las mujeres con un nivel elevado –cinco o más- de células tumorales circulantes. Se encontró un mayor número de estas células en el 30% de las mujeres de tres a cinco semanas después de que comenzaran un nuevo tratamiento. Su cáncer se extendió más rápido que en aquellas cuyos niveles de células circulantes había caído durante el mismo periodo o no habían presentado previamente un nivel elevado.
Webs Relacionadas
University of Michigan
http://www.umich.edu/
New England Journal of Medicine
http://content.nejm.org/
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