From the Research
The ITCP (Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy Perfusion) test has no established utility in cancer diagnosis as a primary diagnostic tool, and its use is not supported by recent high-quality evidence. The provided evidence does not directly address the ITCP test in the context of cancer diagnosis, but rather discusses various other diagnostic techniques and markers, such as ICTP for bone metastases in lung cancer 1, the HrC test measuring Oct4A in peripheral blood 2, technological advancements in cancer diagnostics 3, liquid biopsy in cancer diagnosis 4, and circulating tumor cell isolation for cancer diagnosis and prognosis 5.
Key Points to Consider
- The ICTP test, which is related to but distinct from ITCP, has been shown to be a good diagnostic marker for detecting bone metastasis of lung cancer, with a sensitivity of 66.0% and specificity of 95.0% in lung cancer stages IA and IB 1.
- The HrC test, a proprietary scale measuring Oct-4A expression in peripheral blood, has been validated as a diagnostic tool for detecting and classifying solid tumors, hematological malignancies, and sarcomas based on their stage 2.
- Recent advancements in cancer diagnostics, including imaging, molecular, and low-cost diagnostic tools, have improved the accuracy and accessibility of cancer diagnosis, but also come with limitations such as high cost and the need for optimal target definition 3.
- Liquid biopsy, which encompasses components such as circulating tumor cells, circulating tumor DNA, and exosomes, has emerged as a promising non-invasive diagnostic tool for cancer detection and prognosis, with significant potential for future applications 4.
- Circulating tumor cell isolation techniques, including biomarker-independent methods, have been developed to improve the sensitivity and accuracy of CTC detection for cancer diagnosis and prognosis 5.
Clinical Implications
Given the lack of direct evidence supporting the use of ITCP in cancer diagnosis, physicians should rely on established and validated diagnostic methods, such as imaging studies, tissue biopsies, molecular testing, and conventional blood-based tumor markers, for cancer diagnosis and staging. The potential value of ITCP or related tests, such as ICTP, lies in their ability to provide supplementary information about the tumor microenvironment or detect specific types of cancer, but they should not be used as primary diagnostic tests for cancer.