Cancer stem cell testing (CTC testing/CSC testing)
Until "cancer" is established
Cancer is a disease in which a single cancer cell divides and grows repeatedly, forming a mass, which then grows in an uncontrolled manner. As the mass grows, it metastasizes to other organs, where it forms new masses and spreads. The presence or absence of metastasis is closely related to the stage of the disease and prognosis, and if metastasis is present, treatment becomes more difficult. In many cases, metastasis occurs when cancer cells detached from the primary tumor invade blood vessels or lymphatic vessels, attach to other organs, and divide and grow repeatedly there.
What are CTC and CSC?
CTCs and CSCs are cells called circulating tumor cells and circulating stem cells, respectively. They are cells that circulate by infiltrating into the bloodstream after detaching from the primary tumor, and it is known that CSCs are the main cells that create metastatic lesions.
What is cancer stem cell testing?
The cancer stem cell test involves taking a 20mL blood sample and examining the presence and number of CTCs and CSCs in the blood.
This test reveals the following:
1. Early detection of cancer
Imaging tests such as CT and MRI, which are generally used to detect cancer, have difficulty detecting cancers smaller than 5mm to 1cm in size. However, cancer stem cell tests can sometimes detect cancers smaller than that size if they have infiltrated into the blood.
2. Determining the progression and malignancy of cancer
Measuring the number of CTCs and CSCs in the blood can provide an indication of the possibility of recurrence or metastasis, predict prognosis, and determine how much treatment is needed after surgery.
Additionally, we will also evaluate the molecular biological progression and malignancy by checking the gene expression of CTCs and CSCs as shown below.
Genes related to metastasis and invasion
Angiogenesis-related genes
Signal transduction pathway-related genes
Growth factor receptor-related genes
Hormone receptor-related genes
Cell cycle related genes
Genes associated with treatment resistance
3. Evaluation of treatment efficacy
CTCs and CSCs are cultured and multiplied, and then anticancer drugs (50 types), molecular drugs (44 types), and natural ingredients (approximately 50 types) are added and cultured further to identify ingredients that are highly effective in killing cancer cells. This makes it possible to treat them using anticancer drugs that are expected to be effective.
In addition, by conducting cancer stem cell tests before and after chemotherapy, it is possible to determine whether the anticancer drugs used are effective or not.
Fees (private medical treatment)
Cancer stem cell test (CTC test/CSC test): 660,000 yen (tax included)