New Imaging Tool Tracks Cancer Progression Using Liquid Biopsies
Researchers at the University of Rochester have introduced an innovative "liquid biopsy" tool that aims to simplify and improve cancer detection by analyzing extracellular vesicles (EVs) in bodily fluids. Led by James McGrath, PhD, a biomedical engineering professor at the University and member of the Wilmot Cancer Institute, the project leverages a new imaging approach to make cancer screening and tracking faster and more precise.
What Is a Liquid Biopsy?
A liquid biopsy is a non-invasive test that collects blood, urine, or other bodily fluids to identify cancer cells or molecules released by tumors. This method can detect cancer, monitor disease progression, and gauge the body’s response to treatment, all without the need for more invasive procedures like traditional biopsies.
Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) as Biomarkers
The new tool focuses on analyzing EVs—tiny particles released by cells that contain genes, proteins, and other cellular materials. These EVs carry valuable information about diseases and are seen as potential indicators of cancer. However, up until now, researchers have struggled with how to best analyze the "bioactive cargo" within EVs due to limitations in technology and methodology.
McGrath’s team has addressed these issues by developing an imaging-based digital tool capable of analyzing hundreds of thousands of EVs at once, enhancing sensitivity and allowing for greater analysis of biomarkers in a single test. This approach could help detect cancer at earlier stages and deepen the understanding of how cancer spreads and how the immune system interacts with it.
Future Applications and Use
The study, published in the journal Small, highlights the work of biomedical engineering student Samuel Walker as the first author. The project also involves collaboration with Dr. Jonathan Flax, a research assistant professor in Urology, and Dr. Scott Gerber, an associate professor of Surgery and cancer investigator at the Wilmot Cancer Institute. They are exploring EV-based biomarkers to see how effectively immunotherapy treatments are combating cancer.
Moving forward, McGrath and his team plan to apply this tool in clinical research, potentially guiding treatment-based clinical trials.
