A device developed by MGH investigators may bring rapid, accurate molecular diagnosis of tumors and other diseases to locations lacking the latest medical technology
A device developed by Massachusetts General Hospital investigators may bring rapid, accurate molecular diagnosis of tumors and other diseases to locations lacking the latest medical technology. In their report appearing in PNAS Early Edition, the researchers describe a smartphone-based device that uses the kind of technology used to make holograms to collect detailed microscopic images for digital analysis of the molecular composition of cells and tissues.
“The global burden of cancer, limited access to prompt pathology services in many regions and emerging cell profiling technologies increase the need for low-cost, portable and rapid diagnostic approaches that can be delivered at the point of care,” says Cesar Castro, MD, of the MGH Cancer Center and Center for Systems Biology, co-lead author of the report. “The emerging genomic and biological data for various cancers, which can be essential to choosing the most appropriate therapy, supports the need for molecular profiling strategies that are more accessible to providers, clinical investigators and patients; and we believe the platform we have developed provides essential features at an extraordinary low cost.”
The device the team has developed – called the D3 (digital diffraction diagnosis) system – features an imaging module with a battery-powered LED light clipped onto a standard smartphone that records high-resolution imaging data with its camera. With a much greater field of view than traditional microscopy, the D3 system is capable of recording data on more than 100,000 cells from a blood or tissue sample in a single image. The data can then be transmitted for analysis to a remote graphic-processing server via a secure, encrypted cloud service, and the results rapidly returned to the point of care.
For molecular analysis of tumors, a sample of blood or tissue is labeled with microbeads that bind to known cancer-related molecules and loaded into the D3 imaging module. After the image is recorded and data transmitted to the server, the presence of specific molecules is detected by analyzing the diffraction patterns generated by the microbeads. The use of variously sized or coated beads may offer unique diffraction signatures to facilitate detection. A numerical algorithm developed by the research team for the D3 platform is capable of distinguishing cells from beads and of analyzing as much as 10 MB of data in less than nine hundredths of a second.
A pilot test of the system with cancer cell lines detected the presence of tumor proteins with an accuracy matching that of the current gold standard for molecular profiling, and the larger field of view enabled simultaneous analysis of more than 100,000 cells at a time. The investigators then conducted analysis of cervical biopsy samples from 25 women with abnormal PAP smears – samples collected along with those used for clinical diagnosis – using microbeads tagged with antibodies against three published markers of cervical cancer. Based on the number of antibody-tagged microbeads binding to cells, D3 analysis promptly and reliably categorized biopsy samples as high-risk, low-risk or benign, with results matching those of conventional pathologic analysis.
Read more: Smartphone-based device could provide rapid, low-cost molecular tumor diagnosis
The Latest on: Molecular tumor diagnosis
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Molecular tumor diagnosis” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Molecular tumor diagnosis
- How to Improve Radiotherapy Decisions in Endometrial Canceron April 25, 2024 at 8:26 am
Radiotherapy decisions should be made using refined genomic guidance, as recommended by 2021 updated international guidelines, to better identify patients with molecularly aggressive disease.
- Day One Marks Milestone in Pediatric Cancer as Tovorafenib Approved in BRAF-Mutated Low-Grade Gliomaon April 24, 2024 at 7:39 pm
The American Journal of Managed Care provides insights into the latest news and research in managed care across multimedia platforms.
- Leading the Way: Precision Imaging Sets New Standards in Cancer Diagnosison April 24, 2024 at 9:03 am
Chong Hua Hospital is dedicated to achieving its mission to provide excellent patient-centered care with state-of the art equipment, as well as advanced high-quality services in the Visayas region. On ...
- Newly discovered mechanism helps tumor cells evade the immune system early onon April 24, 2024 at 8:00 am
Tumors actively prevent the formation of immune responses by cytotoxic T cells, which are essential in combating cancer. Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the ...
- RenovaroCube to Acquire 100% Ownership of Cyclomics, Reinforcing Cutting-Edge Cancer Diagnostics Partnershipon April 24, 2024 at 6:00 am
LOS ANGELES and AMSTERDAM, April 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- . (Nasdaq: RENB), a trailblazer in AI-driven early cancer diagnostics and therapeutics, and Cyclomics, a leader in ultra-sensitive 4th ...
- Liver cancer: Molecular signaling pathway of tumor development decodedon April 23, 2024 at 5:00 pm
As a malignant disease of the liver cells, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the main causes of cancer-related deaths. While the treatment options for this aggressive type of cancer remain ...
- Molecular You reports ‘breakthrough’ in early detection of pancreatic canceron April 22, 2024 at 4:59 pm
Molecular You Corp. said it has achieved a significant milestone in the early detection of pancreatic cancer. A case report, published in the journal OMICS, described the effectiveness of the ...
- Molecular Templates gets grant for pd-L1 binding molecule for treating canceron April 18, 2024 at 5:06 am
Discover how Molecular Templates Inc's patent for PD-L1 binding molecules conjugated to a toxin offers a groundbreaking method for treating cancer in humans with PD-L1 expressing tumors. Targeting ...
- The Largest Whole-genome Sequencing Study in Canceron April 17, 2024 at 7:46 am
Comprehensive genome sequencing of 13,880 tumors revealed somatic and germline mutations that could influence patient treatment and prognosis.
- UPDATE: Predicine Introduces PredicineCARE™ NGS Kit for Tumor Profilingon April 11, 2024 at 8:41 pm
HAYWARD, Calif., April 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Predicine, Inc., a leading molecular insights company, announced the release of its innovative PredicineCARE™ NGS Kit. This offering presents a ...
via Bing News