About RGCC tests
The main goal of RGCC tests is to discover, analyse and screen the cancer cells in every step of the disease. Our tests are designed to achieve three aims:
Types of tests RGCC offers:
Liquid biopsy tests
Our liquid biopsy is a non-invasive blood test that requires no surgical intervention. It can detect circulating tumour cells and circulating free DNA in the blood. This has the potential to identify and diagnose certain forms of cancer, and can also be used to monitor a cancer’s progression.
Circulating tumour cell tests
These tests can detect circulating tumour cells. These are cells that have detached from the original tumour and passed into the blood, the lymph system, or another part of the body, with the potential to create a second tumour.
Researchers have made significant progress in detecting and isolating these cells, but circulating tumour cells tests are not yet 100% accurate.
Studies have found that in people with certain types of cancer – of the breast, prostate, pancreas, colon and skin – our test is 87% sensitive and 83% specific for circulating tumour cells (Papasotiriou I. et al, 2015). This means that our test will correctly return a positive result for 87% of the time, and will correctly return a negative result 83% of the time.
Circulating free DNA
These tests can detect circulating free DNA. These are degraded fragments of DNA which the tumour releases into the bloodstream. Testing for circulating free DNA can reveal more accurate information about a tumour’s genetics and characteristics.
The science behind RGCC cancer tests
Cancer is caused by severely damaged genetic material, which leads to random genetic instability. Each person has a unique genetic fingerprint that is different from others. So each tumour behaves differently in each individual, which is why our highly personalised tests are effective.
One study found that in some groups of people with cancer, the proportion who will respond to chemotherapy treatment varies from five to eight in 100. (Royal North Shore Hospital ClinOncol (R Coll Radiol) 2005 Jun;17(4):294).