Introduction: Are cancer cells in the blood?
Yes, cancer cells can sometimes be present in the bloodstream. This situation is called"Circulating tumor cells" (circulating tumor cells, ctcs)。
When cancer progresses to an advanced stage or metastasizes, cancer cells may break off from the primary tumor and enter the circulatory system. These circulating tumor cells can be transported through the bloodstream to other parts of the body and form distant metastases.
Detection and isolation of circulating tumor cells is of great significance for cancer diagnosis and **. By analyzing circulating tumor cells in a blood sample, doctors can determine the extent of metastasis of the cancer, the patient's prognosis, and monitor response and disease progression.
However, circulating tumor cells are present in small numbers in the blood, and their detection and isolation can be challenging. Currently, scientists are constantly researching and developing more sensitive and accurate technologies to better detect and utilize circulating tumor cells to improve cancer diagnosis and**.
Routine blood is a routine clinical examination method used to assess the health of the body and screen for some diseases. However, routine blood tests are not directly used to diagnose cancer.
The blood routine mainly includes hemoglobin, white blood cell count, platelet count and other indicators. These indicators can reflect anemia, infection, and bleeding in the body, but they do not specifically detect cancer.
Diagnosis of cancer usually requires a combination of tests, such as tumor marker testing, medical imaging tests (such as X-ray, CT, MRI, etc.), and tissue biopsy. Tumor marker tests can aid in the diagnosis and monitoring of cancer by measuring the levels of certain proteins or substances in the blood**, but they are not the only basis for diagnosing cancer.
A routine blood routine is a routine clinical examination that measures various indicators in the blood to assess the health of the body and screen for some diseases. Routine blood tests usually include the following indicators:
1.Hemoglobin (HB): Hemoglobin is an important component in red blood cells that carries oxygen. The degree of anemia can be assessed by measuring hemoglobin levels.
2.Red blood cell count (RBC): Red blood cells are the main cells that carry oxygen, and anemia is known by counting the number of red blood cells in a unit volume.
3.White blood cell count (WBC): White blood cells are an important part of the immune system and are used to fight infections. By counting the number of white blood cells per unit volume, you can get a preliminary idea of the state of the immune system.
4.Platelet count (PLT): Platelets are involved in the blood clotting process, and bleeding and clotting function can be known by counting the number of platelets per unit volume.
In addition, the complete blood count can also include other indicators, such as mean red blood cell volume (MCV), mean red blood cell mean hemoglobin content (MCCHC), neutrophil percentage (neu%), etc. These indicators can provide more detailed information to help doctors understand the state of the blood and the possible presence of certain diseases.
If there are abnormalities in the four indicators in the complete blood count, further testing is usually needed to determine the specific ** and diagnosis.
1.Hemoglobin (HB) abnormalities:
If hemoglobin is too low, it may indicate the presence of anemia. Further tests may include iron metabolism markers, vitamin B12 and folic acid levels, and bone marrow aspirate to determine the cause of anemia.
If hemoglobin is too high, it may indicate polycythemia. Further tests may include bone marrow biopsy, blood gas analysis, plasma viscosity measurement, etc.
2.Abnormal red blood cell count (RBC):
If the red blood cell count is too low, it may indicate the presence of anemia or blood loss. Further tests may include bone marrow aspirate, urinalysis, liver function tests, etc., to determine the cause of anemia or blood loss.
If the red blood cell count is too high, it may indicate polycythemia. Further tests may include a bone marrow biopsy, blood gases, and antidiuretic hormone levels.
3.Abnormal white blood cell count (WBC):
If the white blood cell count is too low, it may indicate immunocompromise or bone marrow suppression. Further tests may include lymphocyte subset analysis, immunoglobulin levels, and bone marrow aspirate.
If the white blood cell count is too high, it may indicate the presence of infection, inflammation, leukemia, etc. Further tests may include blood cultures, bone marrow aspirate, and lymphocyte subset analysis.
4.Abnormal platelet count (PLT):
If the platelet count is too low, it may indicate thrombocytopenia or autoimmune thrombocytopenia. Further tests may include bone marrow aspirate, autoantibody testing, liver function tests, etc., to determine**.
If the platelet count is too high, it may indicate thrombocythemia. Further tests may include bone marrow biopsy, plasma viscosity, and detection of JAK2 gene mutations.