ANGLE PLC has announced the publication of a study that highlights the potential of the Parsortix system in predicting progression-free survival for drug trials in ovarian cancer patients. The study, conducted by the Medical University of Vienna, involved 123 metastatic ovarian cancer patients over two and a half years, analyzing 474 longitudinal patient samples. The study identified two CTC-associated markers, ESR1 and ERCC1, which may serve as early predictors of progression-free survival and cancer progression, respectively.

The study, an offshoot of the European multi-centre GANNET53 Phase II clinical trial, is believed to be the largest study of CTCs in ovarian cancer in terms of the number of patient samples analyzed. The analysis of these biomarkers has the potential to provide an early indication of progression-free survival ahead of clinical trial results, making CTC characterization a valuable tool for pharma drug trials in the future.

The study's findings suggest that molecular characterization of CTCs before and during treatment could be a useful tool to monitor ovarian cancer patients and provide further insights into the biology of this challenging-to-treat disease. The study is published as a peer-reviewed journal article in the International Journal of Cancer and is available online. ANGLE's Chief Scientific Officer, Karen Miller, emphasized the significance of the study, stating that it demonstrates the potential utility of molecular characterization of CTCs enriched using the Parsortix system in monitoring ovarian cancer patients throughout their treatment and follow-up.

Ovarian cancer is a significant global health concern, with over 320,000 new cases and over 200,000 deaths worldwide in 2022. The disease is often diagnosed at a later stage, and while patients initially respond well to treatment, many develop resistance. The study's findings hold promise for improving the understanding of patient response to drug treatments and may contribute to the development of more effective therapies for ovarian cancer.