How many cancer cells are there in the blood?
A magic device for detecting tumor cells in the blood
Julia Bondar, Copper News
Researchers from the Department of Physical and Inorganic Chemistry of the Spanish Universitat Rovira i Virgili (Tarragona, Catalonia), led by ICREA researcher Ramon Alvarez Puebla and Professor of Applied Physics Francesc Diaz from the Department of Clinical Oncology at HM Torrelodones University Hospital, have patented a portable device that can detect tumor cells in the blood.
Photo from the press release of Researchers develop a device
that detects tumour cells in blood – VM.
The device counts the number of tumor cells in a blood sample in real time and, thus, is a very effective tool for improving the monitoring, treatment and diagnosis of cancer. The system has already been successfully tested on patients at different stages of breast cancer and can be used to determine the presence of other tumors by analyzing various antibodies in a blood sample.
In addition to early diagnosis, this device can help in controlling the spread of the disease, as well as in evaluating the effectiveness of the treatment.
Patients with cancer, especially if the disease is in the metastasis stage, should be constantly monitored during treatment to assess the progress of the disease and the effectiveness of the procedures performed. Currently, this is done using imaging techniques and biopsies, which are invasive and also not always possible for technical reasons. The new device, developed by URV researchers, is very sensitive and does not require surgery or radiation-related treatment. Thus, it is a very useful clinical method, as it improves the quality of life of patients, eliminating the need for invasive traditional procedures.
The new device uses a combination of two systems: a blood flow analysis system and an optical system consisting of a laser diode and a photodetector to identify blood cells and count those that are malignant, as well as those that are not malignant. The relationship between these two categories gives an understanding of how cancer develops.
This complex system is the result of Eric Pedrol's research led by Jaume Masons and Francesc Diaz in collaboration with the Department of Clinical Oncology at HM Torrelodones University Hospital, headed by Eduardo García-Rico.
The device was jointly patented by URV, ICREA, CTQC, Medcom Advance and Medcom Tech. It has been licensed for commercialization by Medcom Science, a company engaged in research and development of technologies for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
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19.07.2017