New blood test method could spot cancer cells more easily

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * General (all participants) * Participants is willing and able to give and sign a written informed consent * Aged 18 or above * Specific for metastatic breast cancer patients * Female for metastatic breast cancer patients, aged 18 or above * Histological confirmation of breast cancer * Presence of at least one non-bone metastasis * Disease assessed to be in clinical or radiologic progression to the last line of treatment, as evaluated by the investigator * The biopsy, when recommended by the oncologist, is scheduled within 4 weeks after the date of blood withdrawal * Last biopsy or any other minor surgical procedure was perfomed at least 7 days before blood withdrawal * Known Bilirubin level ≥ 2 mg/dL on a blood sample collected within 7 days from the enrolment. If unavailable, it is not necessary to assess bilirubin * Specific for healthy participants * Both sexes for healthy volunteers, aged 18 or above * Healthy participants who visit the site for reason other than cancer diagnosis (including breast cancer). Exclusion Criteria: * Ongoing infections requiring antibiotic or antiviral treatment * Previous history of a blood cancer or an invasive non-BC apart from cancers treated with curative intent at least 3 years previously with no recurrence since diagnosis with the exception of non-melanoma skin cancer. For healthy participants also includes breast cancer * Undergone major surgery \< 4 weeks prior to the time of blood collection * Initiated a new line of treatment after disease progression at the time of blood or tissue biopsy collection * Presence of known severe coagulation or haematological disorder * Pregnancy * For metastatic breast cancer patients: histological confirmation of a Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC)