A test that detects cancer cells in blood samples could become the next noninvasive screening test for colorectal cancer and precancerous polyps, if a current proof-of-concept study is any indication.
The assay is capable of detecting a single circulating tumor cell (CTC) in 1 billion blood cells, according to the researchers. They found that six CTCs was the appropriate threshold to distinguish healthy individuals from those with adenomas or cancer.
“The sensitivity for adenoma detection