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Studies now in progress have been designed to specifically test the efficacy of new treatment approaches in cancer populations selected for their CTC or ctDNA profile, such as the TREAT CTC trial, which is evaluating the efficacy of trastuzumab for treating women with detectable CTCs and HER2-negative primary breast cancer. Another example is the DETECT III trial, which is investigating the efficacy of lapatinib in patients with metastatic breast cancer who have HER2-positive CTCs.
“Until now we have mostly had proof-of-principle studies. Now we need to see how CTCs and ctDNA work in real practice” and in coordination with new approaches to treatment, Dr. Pantel said.
Dr. Bardelli is a shareholder in Horizon Discovery and has been an adviser to Biocartis, Trovagene, and HD. Dr. Caldas had no disclosures. Dr. Prager has been an adviser and consultant to Bayer, Roche, Amgen, Merck Serono, and Sanofi-Aventis. Dr. Ignatiadis has received educational grants from Janssen Diagnostics and Roche. Dr. Pantel has been an adviser to Veridex/Janssen, Alere, and Gilupi.
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