Tumour Characterisation

Tumour Characterisation

Therapy decisions should be personalised to each patient and their specific cancer. Certain targeted tumour therapies are effective only if the tumour exhibits particular properties. For example, HER2/neu-positive breast cancer patients can receive treatment with unique antibodies. Routine testing on tumour tissue or the primary tumour is already part of modern therapy planning. We analyse circulating tumour cells in the blood to determine therapy-relevant properties. This helps identify suitable therapy options, even when the primary tumour has been removed or is inaccessible.

Tumour cells have a high rate of cell division, leading to changes in their properties. These changes can affect surface properties, gene expression and the DNA itself. Regular testing of these properties can positively impact treatment success rates by optimising the responsiveness of tumour cells to the chosen therapy approach.

In cases of “cancer with unknown origin”, various tests (like Melan A, EGFR, ER, B7-H3, PSMA) are typically performed to get an idea of the origin of the tumour. Our “liquid-biopsy” approach examines these cells and helps identify the primary origin of the tumour by determining its specific properties and tells you how many percent of the cells are positive for the target molecule.