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.