Tumor cells in bone marrow of early breast cancer patients predict a higher risk of relapse as well as poorer survival, but bone marrow biopsy is an invasive and painful procedure. Now, it may be possible to identify tumor cells in a routine blood sample and use them as prognostic markers, according to a study published May 15 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

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血液中的肿瘤细胞可能预示着早期乳腺癌的不良预后

早期乳腺癌患者骨髓中的肿瘤细胞预示着复发的风险更高，且生存期较差，但是骨髓活检是一种侵入性且痛苦的过程。根据5月15日发表在《美国国家癌症研究所杂志》上的一项研究，现在有可能在常规血液样本中鉴定肿瘤细胞并将其用作预后标记。