Circulating Tumor Cells Market Size

Circulating Tumor Cells Market size accounted for USD 11.1 billion in 2022 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 12.1% to reach USD 33.5 billion by 2032. The rising incidence of cancer across the globe has led to an increased demand for effective diagnostic and treatment solutions.

CTCs hold immense potential for early cancer detection, monitoring treatment response, and predicting disease progression. Also, advancements in technology and the development of innovative CTC detection and isolation techniques have greatly enhanced the accuracy and reliability of CTC-based diagnostics. Furthermore, the growing focus on personalized medicine and targeted therapies has created a need for precise and real-time information about tumor characteristics, that can be obtained through CTC analysis. Therefore, the integration of CTC-based assays in clinical trials and the increasing adoption of liquid biopsy approaches in routine cancer care are further fuelling the market growth.

Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) are cancer cells that have detached from a solid tumor and entered the bloodstream or lymphatic system. These cells can travel through the circulatory system to distant parts of the body, potentially leading to the formation of secondary tumors, known as metastases, in other organs or tissues.

COVID-19 Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the circulating tumor cells market. The pandemic caused disruptions in healthcare systems worldwide, leading to delays in cancer screenings, diagnosis, and treatment. This, in turn, affected the demand for CTC-based tests and technologies. Moreover, restrictions on non-essential medical procedures and reduced patient visits to healthcare facilities resulted in a decline in the adoption of CTC-based assays.

Additionally, the financial constraints faced by healthcare institutions and the prioritization of resources towards COVID-19-related care further impacted the market. However, as the world gradually recovered from the pandemic, the CTC market is expected to regain momentum as the importance of early cancer detection and personalized treatment strategies becomes increasingly recognized.

Circulating Tumor Cells Market Trends

Increasing number of cancer cases globally will have a positive impact on the market value. For instance, as per the American Cancer Society, in 2022, the total number of new cancer cases were 1.9 million and 609,360 cancer deaths in the U.S. alone. As cancer prevalence rises, there is a growing need for effective cancer diagnostics and monitoring tools along with CTC-based assays and technologies. This presents a significant opportunity for companies operating in the market to develop innovative products and solutions that enable the detection, enumeration, and molecular characterization of CTCs. Additionally, the growing interest in liquid biopsy approaches further fuels the demand for CTC-based technologies, as they offer a non-invasive method for real-time monitoring of cancer patients.

Circulating Tumor Cells Market Restraint

Limited awareness and adoption of CTCs can hamper the market expansion. Due to various factors such as lack of awareness among healthcare professionals, limited availability of CTC-based tests, and high costs associated with their implementation, many healthcare providers and patients remain unaware of the benefits and potential applications of CTC technology. This lack of awareness and understanding has hindered the widespread adoption of CTC-based diagnostics and therapies, thereby hindering the growth and development of the market.

Circulating Tumor Cells Market Analysis

By technology, the circulating tumor cells market is classified into CTC detection and enrichment method, CTC direct detection methods, and CTC analysis. The CTC detection and enrichment method segment is further classified into immunocapture, size-based separation, density-based separation, and combined methods. The CTC detection and enrichment method segment held largest revenue share of 65.9% in 2022. The ability to detect and enrich CTCs from a patient's blood sample provides valuable insights into tumor heterogeneity, metastatic potential, and treatment resistance. These methods enable researchers and clinicians to analyse CTCs at cellular level, uncovering crucial information about tumor biology and aiding in the development of targeted therapies.

Moreover, CTCs offer a non-invasive alternative to traditional tissue biopsies, allowing regular monitoring of disease progression and enabling the early detection of tumor metastasis. With several ongoing advancements in CTC detection technologies along with aforementioned advantages, the segment is anticipated to witness high growth over the forecast period.

Based on application, the CTC market is segmented into research and clinical applications. The research segment is further divided into cancer stem cell & tumorogenesis research and drug/therapy development. The research segment occupied high revenue of USD 8.1 billion in 2022. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are widely used in cancer research, offering valuable insights into tumor biology and cancer prognosis. Moreover, CTCs can be used for monitoring the disease and detecting early signs of metastasis, allowing timely intervention and improved patient outcomes. Further, growing interest of researchers in CTCs and its several applications in cancer research is expected to augment the segment trends.

By product, the circulating tumor cells market is segmented into devices or systems, kits & assays, and consumables. The devices or systems segment held highest market share of 46% in 2022 and is anticipated to grow at a substantial rate over the analysis period. Significant surge in the adoption of devices or systems used in the isolation of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) can be attributed to the growing usage of CTCs for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment monitoring. These devices and systems offer higher sensitivity, specificity, and efficiency in capturing CTCs from peripheral blood samples. The ease of use, scalability, and compatibility of these devices have further fuelled their widespread adoption.

Based on specimen, the circulating tumor cells market is categorized into blood, bone marrow, and other body fluids. The blood segment held highest market share of 47.6% in 2022. Blood is the most widely used for detecting and analysing circulating tumor cells (CTCs). As CTCs are shed into the bloodstream by tumors, blood samples offer a non-invasive means to capture these cells, providing valuable insights into cancer progression and treatment response.

Moreover, blood is an ideal source for early detection and monitoring of metastasis. The relatively high concentration of CTCs in blood samples compared to other bodily fluids further enhances their detection, facilitating detailed genetic and molecular analysis to guide personalized treatment strategies. Therefore, high utilization of blood for studying CTCs is anticipated to promote high segment progression.

Based on end-use, the circulating tumor cells market is categorized into research and academic institutes, hospital and clinics, and diagnostic centers. The research and academic institute segment held considerable market share in 2022. Growing utilization of CTCs in research and academic institutes for cancer related research is enhancing the segment growth. Similarly, growing cases of cancer globally is surging the demand for research, thereby supplementing the segmental revenue.

North America circulating tumor cells market accounted for 42.4% business share in 2022 and is anticipated to grow at a considerable growth rate during the forecast timeframe. Increasing prevalence of cancer in the region coupled with advancements in diagnostic technologies as well as rising awareness among healthcare professionals has contributed to the flourishing CTCs market. Also, robust healthcare infrastructure, coupled with significant investments in research and development, has paved the way for innovative CTC detection and analysis techniques.

Moreover, the region's strong emphasis on precision medicine and targeted therapies has further accelerated the demand for CTC-based diagnostics and monitoring tools. Further, with a growing number of pharmaceutical companies and biotechnology firms actively engaged in CTC research, North America continues to be a key hub for advancements in this field, thereby driving the regional market demand.

Circulating Tumor Cells Market Share

Major market players operating in the circulating tumor cells market include

• Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
• QIAGEN
• Precision for Medicine
• BIOCEPT, Inc.
• Fluxion Biosciences, Inc.
• Greiner Bio One International GmbH
• Ikonisys Inc.
• Miltenyi Biotec
• IVDiagnostics
• BioFluidica
• Biolidics Limited
• Creativ MicroTech, Inc.
• LungLife AI, Inc.
• Rarecells Diagnostics
• ScreenCell
• Sysmex Corporation
• STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.

These industry players majorly adopt various strategies including collaborations, acquisitions, mergers, and partnerships to create a global footprint and sustain market competition.

Circulating Tumor Cells Industry News:

• In November 2019, Biolidics signed a definitive agreement with Sysmex for the joint development of laboratory-developed tests (LDT) to diagnose cancer. This strategy helped the two companies combine their technologies and aid in the development of novel products.
  
• In March 2018, Biocept and Thermo Fisher Scientific entered a technology and commercial collaboration. This strategy helped the companies to develop best-in-class products by integrating Biocept's Target Selector technology with Thermo Fisher's Ion Torrent NGS platform and Oncomine liquid biopsy-based NGS panels. Thus, helping the two players to widen their product offerings.
  

The circulating tumor cells market research report includes an in-depth coverage of the industry with estimates & forecast in terms of revenue in USD from 2018 to 2032, for the following segments:

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By Technology

• CTC Detection and Enrichment Method
  • Immunocapture
    • Positive Selection
    • Negative Selection
  • Size-based Separation
    • Membrane-based
    • Microfluidic-based
  • Density-based Separation
  • Combined Methods
• CTC Direct Detection Methods
  • SERS (Surface-enhanced Raman Spectroscopy)
  • Microscopy
  • Other Direct Detection Methods
• CTC Analysis

By Application

• Research
  • Cancer Stem Cell & Tumorogenesis Research
  • Drug/Therapy Development
• Clinical
  • Screening and Monitoring
  • Risk Assessment

By Product

• Devices or Systems
• Kits & assays
• Consumables

By Specimen

• Blood
• Bone Marrow
• Other Body Fluids

By End-use

• Research and Academic Institutes
• Hospital and Clinics
• Diagnostic Centers

The above information is provided for the following regions and countries:

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
• Europe
  • Germany
  • UK
  • France
  • Spain
  • Italy
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific
  • Japan
  • China
  • India
  • Australia
  • Rest of Asia Pacific
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Argentina
  • Rest of Latin America
• Middle East & Africa
  • South Africa
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Rest of MEA