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Is The 'Liquid Biopsy' Coming Soon?

MGH today announced the five-year, $30 million deal with pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson to bring to the experimental test to market. The technology uses a microchip to detect tiny traces of cancer cells in the blood.

The new test is being heralded as potentially "revolutionary," viewed as a way to track the spread or remission of cancers in patients, and eventually, as a potential screening tool for people who don't have cancer. Still, Dr. Toner says, at the moment, this remains "a very early technology."

Radio Boston is also running a piece about the new test today at 3 pm, and here's the story in The Boston Globe.

This program aired on January 3, 2011. The audio for this program is not available.

Headshot of Rachel Zimmerman

Rachel Zimmerman Reporter
Rachel Zimmerman previously reported on health and the intersection of health and business for WBUR. She is working on a memoir about rebuilding her family after her husband’s suicide. 

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