A CTC-led study has shown that measuring tumour DNA in the blood could help doctors identify earlier when treatment for advanced prostate cancer is not working.
Researchers studied 117 men with newly diagnosed metastatic prostate cancer across 14 NHS sites. They found that patients with detectable levels of tumour DNA in their blood after six to twelve weeks of treatment were at significantly higher risk of poor outcomes.
Combining tumour DNA analysis with standard prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing improved doctors’ ability to identify patients at greatest risk, creating opportunities for more personalised treatment decisions.
Professor Gerhardt Attard (UCL Cancer Institute), who led the study, spoke to The Telegraph about the findings, which could help clinicians tailor treatments more effectively and improve outcomes for men with advanced prostate cancer.