Tumor cells circulating in blood are markers for the early detection and prognosis of cancer.
However, detection of these cells is challenging because of their scarcity. In the journal Angewandte Chemie, scientists have now introduced an ultrasensitive method for the direct detection of circulating tumor cells in blood samples. It is based on the amplified, time-resolved fluorescence measurement of luminescent lanthanide ions released from nanoparticles that bind specifically to tumor cells.
Conventional techniques for the detection of circulating tumor cells require complicated enrichment before detection because a sample of 10 million blood cells only contains about one tumor cell. In contrast, the new method developed by a team working with Xiaorong Song, Xueyuan Chen, and Zhuo Chen, at Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, and Fujian Cancer Hospital (Fuzhou, Fujian, China), works with no enrichment step and directly detects circulating tumor cells in blood samples. The technique is based on a so-called “dissolution-enhanced time-resolved photoluminescence” and uses fluorescing nanoparticles made of lanthanide europium complex.
First the researchers produced antibodies against the epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM, which is a glycoprotein that is present in very high numbers on the surfaces of many tumor cells and acts as a diagnostic marker for cancer). These antibodies were applied as a coating in the wells of microplates, causing tumor cells contained in the blood sample to remain stuck deep in the wells as other blood components were removed.
The scientists coated the europium-containing nanoparticles with the same antibodies. This caused large numbers of the nanoparticles, added in solution, to specifically bind to the tumor cells. A subsequently added “developer” dissolved the nanoparticles, releasing myriad europium ions. These were immediately bound and tightly locked up by other components of the developer solution. This resulted in a manifold amplification of the fluorescence.
Another essential advantage of this method is that europium ions are very long-lived fluorophores that continue to fluoresce for several microseconds after excitation with a flash of light. Because the measurements are time-resolved, it is possible to start the measurement with a delay. Background signals caused by the autofluorescence of cell components only continue for a few nanoseconds and fade before the measurement begins. This increases the sensitivity of the measurements, making it possible for the researchers to detect a single tumor cell per microplate well.
Tests with blood samples from cancer patients registered as few as 10 cells per milliliter of blood. Fourteen out of fifteen cancer patients were correctly identified by this new method. The number of tumor cells in the samples correlated strongly with the stage of cancer in each patient.
Learn more: Direct detection of circulating tumor cells in blood samples
The Latest on: Cancer blood test
[google_news title=”” keyword=”cancer blood test” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Cancer blood test
- NEWS CENTER Maine anchor Lee Goldberg marks milestone in prostate cancer journey with PSA about PSAson May 8, 2024 at 9:25 am
NEWS CENTER Maine's Morning Report anchor Lee Goldberg is reminding everyone with a prostate to get regular PSA tests.
- NH lawmaker pushes to remove multi-cancer screening test from firefighter billon May 7, 2024 at 6:23 pm
As the New Hampshire House considers a bill to provide cancer screenings for firefighters, one lawmaker is questioning whether a cutting-edge test is the best option for firefighters and taxpayers.
- Lawmaker seeks elimination of multi-cancer screening test for firefighters in Senate billon May 7, 2024 at 3:12 pm
Firefighters say an increased risk of cancer is one of the dangers they face as they put their lives on the line every day.
- Scientists Reveal Cancer's Atomic Secrets—'Whole New Layer to Medicine'on May 7, 2024 at 5:44 am
By studying these ratios in yeast and mouse liver cells, the team found that cells that were growing extremely fast, similar to cancer cells, contained a noticeably higher ratio of hydrogen to ...
- Prostate Cancer Newson May 6, 2024 at 4:59 pm
The New Prostate Cancer Blood Test With 94 Per Cent Accuracy Feb. 7, 2023 — Researchers have helped develop a new blood test to detect prostate cancer with greater accuracy than current methods.
- Fighting Cancer: A Basic Guide To Checkpoint Inhibitorson May 6, 2024 at 6:30 am
People with cancer may encounter checkpoint inhibitors as a treatment option but may not know where to start. This article can help you learn more.
- Pancreatic Cancer Is Hard to Detect in Early Stages. A New Blood Test Could Helpon May 3, 2024 at 11:46 am
A liquid biopsy can detect 97% of stage 1 and 2 pancreatic cancer cases, according to an early clinical trial. Blood tests could help improve early detection for the deadly cancer.
- Cancer Supertests Are Hereon May 2, 2024 at 8:12 am
Multi-cancer-screening tools—or “ cancer-finding supertests ,” as Galleri has been called— aren’t yet endorsed by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, or formally approved by the Food and Drug ...
- Dallas’ Breakthrough Blood Test for Canceron April 30, 2024 at 7:18 pm
A North Dallas diagnostic firm may be on the verge of revolutionizing the cancer screening process. Cancer Check Labs has developed a technology that can screen 40ml of blood and detect the growth of ...
- Dallas’ Breakthrough Blood Test for Canceron April 30, 2024 at 6:00 am
A North Dallas diagnostic firm may be on the verge of revolutionizing the cancer screening process. Cancer Check Labs has developed a technology that can screen 40ml of blood and detect the growth ...
via Bing News