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Lani · 04-22-2012, 03:39 PM

So far DTCs (bone marrow) have been found to be more indicative of residual disease capable of causing recurrence than CTCs

The technology for CTC isolation and testing is not yet reliable enough to be agreed upon (only one FDA approved test for isolation and it has problems as it only separates them out by use of magnetic beads against EPCAM among other problems)

Yes, of course the best opportunity would be to test prior to adjuvant treatment and after it to see if it worked. Again, DTCs so far are the most reliable and only the Germans seem to do the trials to follow their presence before and after adjuvant therapy.

A chart from a 6-10 year old study of DTCs in Stage Is and IIs showed 50% of those with her2+ DTCs were dead in 5 yrs, 90% in 10years (small number of patients s= and before herceptin used)

Doesn't that seem like something important to look for --and look for again after the Herceptin treatment/herceptin+ chemo treatment/ herceptin+ other targeted agent treatment to see if the bone marrow clears and remains clear?

If you don't look, how will you ever know?

Off my soapbox for now.

04-22-2012, 03:39 PM	#14
Lani Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4,778	Re: Is it possible to be cured? So far DTCs (bone marrow) have been found to be more indicative of residual disease capable of causing recurrence than CTCs The technology for CTC isolation and testing is not yet reliable enough to be agreed upon (only one FDA approved test for isolation and it has problems as it only separates them out by use of magnetic beads against EPCAM among other problems) Yes, of course the best opportunity would be to test prior to adjuvant treatment and after it to see if it worked. Again, DTCs so far are the most reliable and only the Germans seem to do the trials to follow their presence before and after adjuvant therapy. A chart from a 6-10 year old study of DTCs in Stage Is and IIs showed 50% of those with her2+ DTCs were dead in 5 yrs, 90% in 10years (small number of patients s= and before herceptin used) Doesn't that seem like something important to look for --and look for again after the Herceptin treatment/herceptin+ chemo treatment/ herceptin+ other targeted agent treatment to see if the bone marrow clears and remains clear? If you don't look, how will you ever know? Off my soapbox for now.