circulating tumor cell (ctc) diagnostics Market

The global circulating tumor cell (CTC) diagnostics market is projected to reach US$ 1,909.41 million by 2028 from US$ 3,656.38 million in 2021; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.7% during 2021-2028. The market growth is mainly attributed to the increasing prevalence of cancer globally.

Market Overview

A cell that breaks away from the original tumor and travels through the lymphatic and blood systems is known as a circulating tumor cell (CTC). CTCs are responsible for the growth and spread of cancer to other parts of the body, leading to most cancer-related deaths. Detecting and analyzing CTCs can aid in determining patient prognosis and designing personalized treatments. CTC diagnosis offers several benefits over traditional diagnostic methods, including non-invasiveness, repeatability, and effectiveness. Major CTC technologies include CTC detection and enrichment, direct detection, and analysis. Identifying and detecting circulating tumor cells can aid in early diagnosis and prognosis, leading to more precise patient treatment. CTC diagnostics are employed across a range of cancers such as breast, colorectal, kidney, lung, lymphoma, melanoma, and prostate cancers. The reliability and accuracy of CTC diagnostics have led to a surge in demand in recent years, given their ability to assess the risk of multiple cancers and monitor various cancer treatments.

Market Dynamics

The occurrence of cancer is on the rise in healthcare systems worldwide. The World Health Organization reports that cancer is the second most common cause of death globally. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has estimated that the global cancer burden has increased to 19.3 million cases, resulting in 9.96 million cancer deaths as of 2020.

Technology Insights

The global market for circulating tumor cell (CTC) diagnostics is categorized into CTC detection and enrichment, CTC direct detection, and CTC analysis, based on technology. In 2020, the largest market share was held by the CTC detection and enrichment segment. However, the same segment is expected to exhibit the highest compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2021 to 2028. Enrichment can improve selectivity, sensitivity, and yield if performed accurately, and significantly reduce the time required to isolate rare circulating tumor cells. Thus, the various benefits provided by the enrichment technique are projected to drive market growth during the forecast period.

Application Insights

The global circulating tumor cell (CTC) diagnostics market is segmented by application into clinical/liquid biopsy and research. The research segment held a larger market share in 2020 and is projected to exhibit a higher compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2021 to 2028. The identification of CTCs in blood samples is emerging as one of the most active areas of translational cancer research, and the growing need for novel cancer diagnostic and treatment methods is anticipated to propel market growth during the forecast period.

End-User Insights

The circulating tumor cell (CTC) diagnostics market is categorized by end-users into hospitals and clinics, research and academic institutes, and diagnostic centers. The research and academic institutes segment was the largest market segment in 2021 and is predicted to maintain a substantial share of the market during the forecast period. The growth of the cancer research institutes segment can be attributed to factors such as the rising focus on cancer diagnosis and therapeutic development, increasing awareness for cancer diagnosis, and significant investment from government and other enterprises.

Regional Overview

The National Cancer Institute published a study indicating that cancer incidence in the US is expected to reach 1.9 million in 2021, with approximately 0.6 million cancer-related deaths projected for the year. Cancer Research UK data from 2020 revealed that 0.16 million people in the UK die from cancer annually. According to the Globocan report, breast cancer cases numbered 911,014 in 2018, with 310,577 deaths globally. Of those, 367,900 cases were reported in China and 162,468 in India. This growing global cancer prevalence is fueling demand for circulating tumor cell diagnostics. A study released by the National Cancer Institute predicts that cancer incidence in the US will rise to 1.9 million in 2021, with approximately 0.6 million deaths expected from cancer this year. In 2020, Cancer Research UK reported that 0.16 million people die annually from cancer in the UK. The Globocan report from 2018 indicated that breast cancer cases worldwide totaled 911,014, resulting in 310,577 deaths. China and India had 367,900 and 162,468 breast cancer cases, respectively. This increase in cancer incidence globally has created a greater demand for circulating tumor cell diagnostics.

Market Players 

The report on the global circulating tumor cell (CTC) diagnostics market referred to several primary and secondary sources, including the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), National Cancer Institute, Cancer Research UK, Global Cancer Observatory, International Health Regulation, and World Bank Data.