According to SciTechDaily, this cancer testing method uses ultra-thin membranes to capture extracellular vesicles.
Cells release billions of extracellular vesicles into the blood, saliva, and other bodily fluids. These vesicles carry important information, including proteins and genetic material from their parent cells, providing insights into the current state of the body, especially aiding in early cancer detection.
A Fast and Cost-Effective Cancer Testing Method
Scientists recognize the significant potential of extracellular vesicles in diagnosis and treatment but face challenges in developing quick and cost-effective methods.
Researchers have developed ultra-thin membranes with perfectly sized pores to capture and display extracellular vesicles – (Photo: University of Rochester/Erik Patak).
In a study published in the journal Small, researchers at the University of Rochester presented a new method using ultra-thin membranes to easily identify extracellular vesicles in rapid liquid biopsy tests.
This method is called “catch and display for liquid biopsy” (CAD-LB), promising quick and affordable cancer diagnosis as well as assessment of treatment progress.
“By looking for extracellular vesicles and the biomarkers they carry in blood samples or other bodily fluids, you can find critical clues indicating that something is wrong in the body,” said James McGrath, a professor of biomedical engineering and the lead researcher.
“This idea has been around for a long time, but previously it required multiple refining steps to separate extracellular vesicles from other components of biological fluids. CAD-LB is much simpler and faster, providing clinical application potential that more complex methods lack.”
The research team developed ultra-thin membranes with pore sizes perfectly designed to capture extracellular vesicles.
After taking a blood sample, the sample is quickly processed, deposited onto the membrane using a micropipette, and analyzed directly under a microscope.
By counting the number of glowing pores with the specific biomarker for the disease being assessed, users can quickly estimate the prevalence of the disease in the body.
Detecting Immune Regulatory Proteins and Customizing Treatment
In addition to presenting the CAD-LB method, the study also demonstrated the method’s ability to identify important immune regulatory proteins on extracellular vesicles.
These proteins play a crucial role in helping the body fight tumors and can predict patient response levels to immunotherapy.
“CAD-LB is now sensitive enough to detect certain types of cancer at a curable stage, highlighting the potential of this technology in cancer screening,” said co-author Jonathan Flax, an assistant research professor in the Urology Department at the University of Rochester Medical Center.
“This method can also be used to predict the most suitable immunotherapy options for individual patients, enabling targeted treatment and the elimination of cancer cells.”
