Out for Blood: Filtering Out Circulating Tumor Cells
Because tumors get their nutrients from blood, cancer cells are likely to enter the blood. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) flow through the vascular system and allow for cancer metastasis. Thus, research is underway to use fluid biopsy to diagnose, monitor, and treat cancer.
Massachusetts General Hospital's BioMEMS Resource Center is pushing toward the CTC-Chip, a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) on a probe that contains tiny columns to collect and separate CTCs from blood. Initial versions of the CTC-Chip were coated with tumor-specific biomarkers to collect one type of cancer cell at a time. Fortunately, Mehmet Toner has discovered a way to detect any type of cancer using magnetic cell labeling and microfluidic cell sorting.
Janssen Diagnostics has already introduced the FDA-approved Cellsearch system that removes CTCs from a blood sample. However, more innovations are likely to be seen in the near future, including a development in technology with higher sensitivity and specificity to CTCs. Furthermore, the commercialization of CTC technology will make cancer treatment more accessible in developing areas of the world.
The concept of global health has always interested me. I am currently in an organization that promotes improvement in the quality of healthcare in developing countries and I am also involved in a project presented by the same organization. While I do not necessarily intend to work in the field of oncology, I support any development, such as the CTC-Chip, that has the capacity to help those who have little access to decent healthcare because of its potential low cost and simplicity. Many researchers and companies develop drugs and devices in order to make a profit rather than with the pure goal of helping people, and I hope to move away from this trend in whatever career I choose.
https://www.asme.org/engineering-topics/articles/bioengineering/out-for-blood
Massachusetts General Hospital's BioMEMS Resource Center is pushing toward the CTC-Chip, a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) on a probe that contains tiny columns to collect and separate CTCs from blood. Initial versions of the CTC-Chip were coated with tumor-specific biomarkers to collect one type of cancer cell at a time. Fortunately, Mehmet Toner has discovered a way to detect any type of cancer using magnetic cell labeling and microfluidic cell sorting.
Janssen Diagnostics has already introduced the FDA-approved Cellsearch system that removes CTCs from a blood sample. However, more innovations are likely to be seen in the near future, including a development in technology with higher sensitivity and specificity to CTCs. Furthermore, the commercialization of CTC technology will make cancer treatment more accessible in developing areas of the world.
The concept of global health has always interested me. I am currently in an organization that promotes improvement in the quality of healthcare in developing countries and I am also involved in a project presented by the same organization. While I do not necessarily intend to work in the field of oncology, I support any development, such as the CTC-Chip, that has the capacity to help those who have little access to decent healthcare because of its potential low cost and simplicity. Many researchers and companies develop drugs and devices in order to make a profit rather than with the pure goal of helping people, and I hope to move away from this trend in whatever career I choose.
https://www.asme.org/engineering-topics/articles/bioengineering/out-for-blood
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