I finally got my CTC (Circulating Tumour Cell) test results back from Greece. The test extracts circulating tumour cell from a blood sample. The cells are multiplied in a culture medium and once there are enough, a range of tests can be performed on the sample. I believe that the more information one has the better, so I ordered all relevant tests:
1. Chemosensitvity test to find out which chemo agents the cancer responds to the best.
2. Oncotrail test – malignancy phenotyping
3. Nutraceuticals test to identify possible nutraceuticals the cancer may respond to.
4. CFS panel to identify any viruses present.
There are other possible tests, but at this stage of my disease only the above I thought relevant.
Organizing the test was quite simple. First an email to RGCC requesting the test kit. This arrived promptly within a week. Next getting the blood drawn, packing it in ice and organizing the courier. There was quite a bit of paperwork involved, but that was just tedious. The important thing is to time the courier delivery as the blood samples have a limited shelf life. The DHL delivery was estimated at 5-6 days, so I had the blood taken and dispatched on Monday.
I don’t know how accurate the RGCC test is. One concern is that during the culturing of the cells, new mutations not present in the original cancer can develop, giving potentially false results. This may however just be propaganda from rival services using biopsy samples for their tests, which are claimed to be more accurate.
The chemo sensitivity test is quite interesting, though most traditional oncologists will not direct their chemo based on these results. The american society of clinical oncology (ASCO), has advised all its members not to rely on CTC tests for chemo, but to follow the standard protocols.
For me the most interesting aspect of the test were the gene and protein expressions. This gives me some new directions in possible treatments and already Celebrex is high on my list due to the elevated COX-2 expression, Celebrex being a COX-2 inhibitor.
The nutraceuticals test is also interesting and I will be adding several new supplements to my daily regime. Namely Quercertin and Ginistein.
Just for interest, below are the actual conclusions from the tests:
The Results
We notice that the thalidomide cannot inhibit the neovascularization and infiltration procedure and it cannot induce the apoptosis to the cancer cell coming from the above named patient.
There is indication according the marker profile that there is an activation of
autoimmune response that causes the CFS.
Chemosensitivity Test Results
From the investigation above we concluded to the following:
1. From the whole neoplasmic population we have an expression of MDR1 in a percentage of 65% over control sample (positive in the check of resistance).
2. The activity of GST is stable in the low limits ( no resistance to platinum compounds ).
3. The activity of GammaGC is in normal range (no resistance to platinum compounds).
4. The activity of CES1 and CES2 is in normal range (no resistance to camptothecin compounds).
5. The concentration of p180 is in normal range.
6. Increased activity of the Laminin and the MMP (increased invasive ability).
7. There is no sensitivity in taxanes (Paclitaxel ,Docetaxel).
8. There is no sensitivity in alkaloids of vinca.
9. There is no sensitivity in Eribulin.
10. Partial sensitivity noticed in 5FU, in MTX, in Capecitabine, in UFT, in Raltitrexed, in Pemetrexed, no sensitivity
noticed in Gemcitabine, in Cytarabine, in Fludarabine but there is great sensitivity in (Fudr).
11. There is no sensitivity in Epothilones.
12. Increased sensitivity in alkylating factors ( Cisplatin, Mitomycin ).
13. There is great overexpression of NFkB (15% over control), EGF (55% over control), TGF-b (40% over control), but
there is suppression of expression of IkB(a,b,c) (10% below control).
14. It appears to have no sensitivity in the inhibitors of topoisomerase II a and II b.
15. There is great sensitivity in the inhibitors of Topoisomerase I ( CPT11 ).
16. There is great over-expression of COX2 (25% over control), C-erb-B1 (50% over control) but there is normal expression
of 5-LOX, SS-r, C-erb-B2, Estrogen-Receptor and Progesterone-Receptor.
17. We notice great neoangiogenetic ability (overexpression of VEGF-R 65% over control sample).
18. Finally, there is no sensitivity in Dacarbazine.
19. We notice that taurolidine cannot induce the apoptosis to the malignant cells (in IV route dosage).
20. We notice that taurolidine can induce the apoptosis to the malignant cells (in intraperitoneal route dosage).
21. We notice down-regulation of HSP27 ( Heat Shock Protein ) at 15% below control, HSP72 ( Heat Shock Protein ) at
25% below control and HSP90 ( Heat Shock Protein ) at 10% below control.
22. There is over-expression of ANG 1 at 35% over control, ANG 2 at 30% over control, IGF-r 1 at 25% over control, IGF-r
2 at 25% over control, but we notice no down-regulation of ALK, EML-4-ALK, C-MET, NPM-ALK, CD 117 (c-kit), HDAC, HAT, NR3C4-A and NR3C4-B.z
Conclusion :
The specific tumor appears to have resisting populations because of the MDR1 overexpression that can be reversed by the use of verapamil combined with imidazole compounds (ketoconazole).
The neoplasmatic cells have the greatest sensitivity in the alkylating agent ( Cisplatin, Mitomycin) , in the inhibitors of Topoisomerase I ( CPT11 ) and in the antagonist (Fudr).
Also can be used Bevacizumab as inhibitor of neo-angiogenesis and Pazopanib as inhibitor of VEGF-r.
CFS Test Results
An EBV viral genome for the above tested viruses has been amplified and
detected.
Nutraceuticals Sensitivity Test Results
It seems that this specific population of malignant cell have greater sensitivity in Super Artemisinin , in Amygdalin-(B17) , in Ascorbic acid , in Bio D Mulsion NuMedica Micellized D3 , in DCA (dichloroacetate) , in Genistein , in Salicinium , in New PME , in PME , in Quercetin , in Curcumin (turmeric)
Resources
2 Responses to CTC Results from RGCC