I like pulling stunts on my staff. Just kidding – not really. It might be fun in a parallel universe, but in this one, they mostly hate me for it.
Sometimes I’m a little bit too excited to whip out new tests and offerings. Occasionally, they end up on the schedule before we even have them in our system (a personal favorite of my front desk staff – ok, not really. Or at all…). It makes everyone in the office a little crazy. And I don’t blame them.
“Hey – Who put this on the schedule and never told us about it??”
**crickets**
In my defense, science is moving at the speed of light, and most days, it feels like I’m in a dead sprint trying to keep up. In 2024, I selected my latest target. Cancer. It happened well before then, but this Chinese year of the Dragon, I was finally ready. I was completely over cancer. (I am also personally a Dragon, so I thought that might help…). Why every other person walking through the front door seems to have cancer is a discussion for another day – and well, one I’ve not so vaguely danced around more than a few times. This year, I made it my mission to go all in on the who, what, where, why, when, and how of cancer.
- What’s driving the exponential increase in cases?
- Who’s most at risk and why?
- How is it really behaving from a physiologic standpoint in the body?
- When is the best time to go looking for it?
- How best to treat such an individualized disease?
- What are the latest testing and intervention capabilities?
Testing and novel therapeutics are where RGCC comes in.
I wrote about RGCC to a certain extent in my latest blog post on cancer, but if the rest of you feel anything like my staff, it seems I may have inadvertently created a few more questions than answers. The Research Genetics Cancer Center (RGCC) group, located in Florina, Greece, has been developing what can only be described by an outsider as pure, unadulterated science fiction in terms of testing and treatment for cancer. They have been around for more than 20 years – seemingly in a secret underground bunker. In every one of those years, they have come out with something new and even more explosive than the one before.
Liquid biopsy for early detection of cancer? ✔
Even earlier than any other currently available liquid biopsy for early detection of cancer? ✓
Liquid biopsy for precise cancer typing without additional scans or blood tests? ✔
Liquid biopsy to determine your tumor load? ✔
Liquid biopsy for drug resistance, aggressiveness, and metastasis risk? ✔
Liquid biopsy to determine which chemo drug will work for your specific cancer? ✓
Liquid biopsy for personalized cancer treatment with natural substances? ✓
Development of individualized supportive oligonucleotide and dendritic T-cell therapies? ✓
Liquid biopsy to monitor efficacy of your treatment plan? ✓
I don’t know about you, but I first joined RGCC this sounded like the ‘early detection of and cure for cancer as we currently understand it’ model secretly developed by DARPA. Was the NSA monitor my phone calls now? You know I’m probably already on the government watch list. Allegedly.
Look, there’s a lot to understand about what RGCC can offer. For today, I’ll stay away from the radioactive shit and focus on their state of the art ‘testing’. Sound safe? Excellent.
Let’s get into it…
Introduction
Living with or surviving cancer is a complicated journey, to say the least. Conventional medicine puts treatment at the center of that paradigm, but early detection, monitoring, and staying one step ahead of its progression is equally, if not more important. Why wait until we already have a problem? Traditional screening and diagnostic methods like imaging and biopsies have their place. Still, they are limited by significant obstacles, such as requiring a detectable tumor mass, blood tests with poor sensitivity, or invasive procedures. RGCC changes all of that. Until the powers that be unveil the evasive Medbed, the majority of uncertainty in diagnosing and treating cancer are over.
RGCC isn’t paying me a dime to promote their company. I just feel so strongly about this, that I think everyone needs to know it’s out there and available. I don’t want to get too caught up in the weeds here, so let’s focus on what I believe are their three heaviest hitters when it comes to testing: the Onco-D-clare, the OncoTrace, and the Onconomics liquid biopsies for cancer.
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Onco-D-Clare
In April of 2024, RGCC released their flagship test for cancer screening called Onco-D-clare, which I discussed in my latest post. To recap, Onco-D-clare is a truly revolutionary screening test for cancer. Unlike conventional tests, such as scans or biopsies, this is a simple blood test. While other blood tests on the market detect cancer only after it’s already present and shedding fragments into the bloodstream, Onco-D-clare takes a different approach.
Onco-D-clare isn’t looking for cancer cells or DNA fragments; instead, it evaluates healthy white blood cells that have encountered early-stage cancer cells. White blood cells are a critical part of your immune system, constantly on patrol to detect any signs of danger.
When these immune cells detect a rogue cancer cell, it’s caught on body cam. This is the “footage” Onco-D-clare evaluates. If the test shows that your immune system has spotted something suspicious, the result will come back positive. A positive result doesn’t necessarily mean you have cancer; it simply indicates that your immune system may have detected early-stage cancer cells. The beauty of this test is that it picks up signals long before traditional methods, such as imaging, which typically only detect cancer once a tumor has grown large enough to be seen.
If your Onco-D-clare test result is negative, this indicates that no suspicious activity was detected by your immune system, and you’re in the clear for another year before needing to repeat the test. If it comes back positive, however, we would follow up with the next test in the RGCC suite: OncoTrace, which gives us more detailed information about the presence and behavior of cancer cells.
Sample Onco-D-clare Report:
Onco-D-clare Highlights:
- Early Cancer Detection: Detects cancer-related changes in the blood before symptoms appear, years before traditional screening methods can identify a tumor.
- Liquid Biopsy: A simple non-invasive blood test that analyzes gene expression in immune cells indicating the presence of cancer.
- High Accuracy: The test has a true positive rate of 92.4% and a true negative rate of 94.78%, making it highly sensitive and specific for cancer detection.
- Non-Invasive: Requires only a blood draw, eliminating the need for invasive procedures like biopsies or radiation exposure from imaging studies.
- Wide Cancer Detection Range: Detects a broad range of cancer types, rather than targeting specific types of cancer cells.
- Ideal for Cancer Surveillance: Recommended for individuals with no known history of cancer as a routine surveillance tool for early detection.
- Annual Monitoring: For ongoing cancer prevention, it is advised to repeat the Onco-D-clare test yearly for early detection and peace of mind.
Q: I had cancer 20 years ago and have been in remission ever since. Can I still do the Onco-D-Clare?
A: No. Onco-D-clare is only recommended for people with no known history of cancer – even a remote history of cancer. So, if you had a melanoma removed in your 20s with no history of recurrence, you would still start with OncoTrace for screening, not Onco-D-clare.
Q: How is the Onco-D-clare test different from traditional cancer screening like mammograms or colonoscopies?
A: While traditional screenings like mammograms detect tumors once they’ve grown large enough to be visible, Onco-D-clare identifies immune system changes caused by cancer cells much earlier—often years before a tumor would be detectable on imaging.
Q: What if my Onco-D-clare is positive?
A: A positive Onco-D-clare does not necessarily mean someone has cancer – just that the immune system has seen something that looks like cancer. The false positivity rate of Onco-D-clare is extremely low (5%), but it can occur. In the setting of a positive test, the OncoTrace is run to confirm results and determine origin of tumor. We have the option to reflexively run the OncoTrace if ordered within 48 hours of recept of a positive Onco-D-clare without needing an additional blood draw.
Q: How often should I take the Onco-D-clare test?
A: It’s recommended to take the test once a year for routine cancer surveillance and early detection.
OncoTrace
OncoTrace is a completely different test from Onco-D-clare, even though both are blood-based liquid biopsies. While Onco-D-clare analyzes immune cells’ response to potential cancer, OncoTrace detects circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the blood. CTCs are cells that have broken off from a primary tumor and entered the bloodstream, often signifying the presence of cancer.
OncoTrace provides crucial information about the number, type, and behavior of these CTCs. It can help monitor active cancer, track treatment response, and detect recurrence much earlier than traditional scans. This test uses flow cytometry—a fancy technique that sorts cells based on their size, shape, and specific markers they express on their surface—to detect even a single CTC among millions of white blood cells.
Sample OncoTrace Report:
Key Features of OncoTrace:
- Early Detection: OncoTrace can detect cancer cells at extremely low levels, sometimes as few as 1 CTC in 25 milliliters of blood. This allows us to catch cancer activity early and begin tailored interventions.
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Immunophenotyping: OncoTrace identifies the specific protein markers (immunophenotypes) on the surface of the CTCs, giving us insights into the cancer’s tissue of origin and potential behavior, such as aggressiveness, risk of recurrence, and treatment resistance.
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Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs): OncoTrace also identifies cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are a subpopulation of cancer cells known for their role in driving tumor growth and resistance to conventional therapies. These cells are particularly important to monitor because they are often responsible for cancer recurrence.
Together, these features allow us to monitor your cancer more closely and adjust treatment as needed. However, knowing how to treat these CTCs is just as critical as detecting them, which is where Onconomics comes in.
OncoTrace Highlights:
- Circulating Tumor Cell (CTC) and stem cell (CSC)
- Detection: Identifies the presence of both CTCs and CSCs in the bloodstream, identifying factors that drive tumor growth, resistance, and recurrence, providing insights into long-term prognosis.
- All Cancer Types: Detects CTCs from all types of cancer, including solid tumors and hematological cancers (except CNS tumors).
- Monitoring Tool: Used for monitoring treatment effectiveness and tracking the cancer’s progression or recurrence over time.
- Characterizes CTCs/CSCs: Provides detailed information about the origin and behavior of cancer cells, including markers that indicate aggressiveness, potential for metastasis, and resistance to therapy.
- Real-Time Cancer Status: Offers a real-time view of cancer activity to give a more dynamic picture of the disease.
- Baseline and Follow-Up Testing: Serves as a baseline test to assess the extent of disease and as a follow-up tool to compare results after treatment.
- Non-Invasive: A simple blood test that avoids the need for more invasive procedures like scans and biopsies.
OncoTrace FAQs:
Q: Who should consider taking the Oncotrace test?
A: It’s recommended for individuals with a history of cancer who are currently in treatment, in remission, or looking for early signs of recurrence. OncoTrace is limited to detecting cancers that occur outside the CNS because of the protection of the blood brain barrier.
Q: What happens next if my OncoTrace is positive?
A: This is hugely dependent on patient preference. Often this is where the conventional side gets pulled in. If OncoTrace is positive for a low grade appearing prostate cancer, for example, next steps might include MRI of the prostate, PSA, Onconomics testing, and referral to specialist if the patient is considering surgery or conventional intervention. If OncoTrace is positive for a known high grade colorectal cancer, this patient has likely already had the conventional scans and labs – maybe even surgery. We would move right to Onconomics to help better guide our therapy.
Q: Can I take Oncotrace if I’m already undergoing treatment?
A: Yes! Oncotrace is an excellent tool for tracking how well your treatment is working by monitoring the number and type of CTCs over time. Because OncoTrace provides a real-time picture of cancer, it is a test that is often repeated every 3-4 months while patients are undergoing therapy (conventional, natural, or a combination of both), until CTC count is below a particular threshold.3
Onconomics
Onconomics goes beyond simply detecting cancer cells; it tests how your specific cancer cells respond to a range of treatments. Using a sample of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and cancer stem cells (CSCs) from your blood, Onconomics helps us identify the most effective therapies—both conventional chemotherapy and natural substances.
Sample Onconomics Report:
There are two flavors of the Onconomics test:
- Onconomics: This panel tests your cancer cells against a variety of chemotherapy agents and targeted therapies to see which drugs are most effective at killing your specific cancer cells. This allows us to personalize your treatment plan, avoiding ineffective therapies and minimizing unnecessary side effects.
- Onconomics Extracts: This panel focuses on natural substances with potential anti-cancer effects, testing how well your cancer cells respond to over 50 natural compounds like plant extracts and vitamins. This gives us the option to include natural therapies alongside conventional treatment to maximize effectiveness.
By combining the information from OncoTrace and Onconomics, we can create a dynamic treatment plan based on real-time data about your cancer. While OncoTrace shows us how active your cancer is and whether it’s responding to treatment, Onconomics guides us in selecting the most effective drugs or natural substances for your specific case.
Onconomics Natural Substances List
The Onconomics Extracts test evaluates efficacy of all natural substances listed above, but they can add on any or all of the 200+ substances listed below as well as anything growing in your backyard if we just send it into their lab. Cool shit. (It’s a really long list and I know you can’t read it – sorry).
Together, these tests provide a detailed map of how your cancer cells react to different treatment options, giving us the data needed to personalize your treatment strategy.
Onconomics Highlights:
- Personalized Treatment: Determines which chemotherapy drugs, targeted therapies, and natural substances are most effective for your specific cancer. More than 50 chemotherapy agents and 60 targeted drugs are tested.
- Minimizes Unnecessary Side Effects: Helps avoid treatments that may be ineffective for your specific cancer, reducing unnecessary side effects and improving outcomes.
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Resistance Factors: Identifies drug resistance factors, enabling better timing and rotation of treatment protocols to prevent resistance from developing.
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Non-Invasive: Performed via a simple blood draw, making it a non-invasive alternative to traditional biopsy-based sensitivity testing.
- Real-Time Data: Provides real-time information about the current behavior and vulnerabilities of your cancer cells, helping to adjust treatments as needed.
Onconomics FAQs:
Q: How does Onconomics improve my cancer treatment?
A: By identifying how your cancer cells respond to various therapies, Onconomics helps personalize your treatment plan, ensuring you receive the most effective therapy and avoiding treatments that won’t work for your cancer.
Q: What is the difference between Onconomics and Onconomics Extracts?
A: Onconomics focuses on conventional chemotherapy and targeted therapies, while Onconomics Extracts tests the effectiveness of natural substances (such as plant extracts and vitamins) on your cancer cells.
Q: How is the test performed?
A: Onconomics is done through a simple blood draw. The circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from your blood are analyzed in the lab to determine how they respond to various treatment options.
Q: Can I take the Onconomics test if I’m already undergoing cancer treatment?
A: Yes! The Onconomics test can be used to refine your treatment plan during or after treatment, helping identify any new effective therapies or alternative natural substances that may support your recovery. This test is often repeated yearly to make sure treatment remains on track.
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How Onco-D-clare, OncoTrace, and Onconomics Work Together
Each of these tests plays a critical role in early detection, monitoring, and personalizing cancer treatment. Here’s a recap on how they complement each other to provide a comprehensive approach to cancer care:
- Onco-D-clare is the starting point, designed to detect early signs of cancer before symptoms appear. It analyzes the gene expression of white blood cells, which react when they encounter early-stage cancer cells. This test helps identify potential cancer activity years before traditional imaging methods can, making it an excellent tool for routine surveillance, especially for individuals with no known history of cancer.
- If Onco-D-clare returns a positive result, indicating early cancer activity, the next step is OncoTrace, which detects circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the bloodstream. Oncotrace provides deeper insights into cancer behavior by identifying the number and type of CTCs. It helps determine the aggressiveness, potential for metastasis, and how well the cancer may respond to treatment. OncoTrace is especially valuable for individuals with a known cancer history or those currently undergoing treatment.
- Once OncoTrace has detected the presence and behavior of CTCs, Onconomics steps in to analyze how those cancer cells respond to various therapies. By testing your CTCs against chemotherapy agents, targeted drugs, and natural substances, Onconomics helps identify the most effective treatments for your specific cancer cells. This personalized approach minimizes side effects by avoiding ineffective therapies and increases the likelihood of successful treatment.
A Powerful Trio for Precision Cancer Care
Together, Onco-D-clare, OncoTrace, and Onconomics form a comprehensive strategy for cancer detection and treatment. Onco-D-clare provides early detection and acts as a screening tool for those without a cancer diagnosis. If a positive result is found, OncoTrace identifies CTCs, allowing us to monitor the cancer’s status and progression in real-time. Finally, Onconomics helps determine the most effective treatment plan by revealing which therapies are best suited to your unique cancer cells.
By using all three tests, we can stay ahead of cancer, offering early detection, precise monitoring, and customized treatment plans – regardless of what style of treatment plan you feel is best for you. This integrated approach reduces guesswork, helps catch cancer before it becomes symptomatic, and maximizes the effectiveness of treatment, ultimately improving patient outcomes with fewer side effects.
Conclusion
In the fight against cancer, early detection, accurate monitoring, and personalized treatment are game changers. The testing developed by RGCC represents a significant advancement in cancer care. These tests offer a powerful combination of early detection, real-time monitoring, and individualized treatment strategies tailored to each patient’s unique cancer profile.
With Onco-D-clare, we can detect cancer years before it becomes visible on traditional screenings, giving patients the ability to act early. Oncotrace adds another layer of precision by identifying circulating tumor cells and cancer stem cells, offering deep insights into how cancer behaves, whether it is progressing, and how it responds to treatment. Finally, Onconomics personalizes treatment plans, ensuring that the therapies chosen—whether conventional drugs or natural substances—are the most effective for each patient’s specific cancer cells.
Together, these tests provide a roadmap for precision cancer care, allowing for more informed decisions, targeted therapies, and better outcomes. As we continue to push the boundaries of cancer treatment, these tests bring us one step closer to staying ahead of the disease and giving patients the best chance at long-term health.
If you’re interested in learning more about how these advanced tools can support your cancer care, please contact our office to schedule a consultation. We are here to provide you with the best available resources in the fight against cancer.