Siemens joins European CANCER-ID research consortium

Siemens has joined CANCER-ID, a consortium founded under the EU Innovative Medicines Initiative to drive further understanding of cancer.

The consortium includes 33 partners from 13 countries working together to establish standard protocols for the clinical validation of blood-based biomarkers, which have the potential to revolutionise the detection and treatment of cancer.

It is thought that these biomarkers, including circulating tumor cells (CTCs), can be used as indicators for the tumour burden of patients living with cancer, especially for those who do not have tumour biopsies available.

Blood-based tests could detect and track these CTCs, providing the convenience of a simple blood test to reliably monitor a patient's condition and improve the range and efficacy of treatment options.

Trevor Hawkins, senior vice-president at Siemens Clinical Laboratory, said: "By participating in and contributing to this consortium, we believe we can more quickly expand our knowledge of biology of biomarkers like CTCs."

CANCER-ID brings together experts from academic and clinical research, innovative small to medium-sized enterprises, diagnostic companies and the pharmaceutical industry.