Ultra-sensitive sensors for the detection of onset metastatic cancers from blood samples

癌症转移是指癌细胞扩散到肿瘤起源以外的组织和器官并形成新的肿瘤。这一过程是一系列生物事件的级联，由于其复杂性而尚不清楚。检测早期转移仍然具有挑战性。尽管最近的临床治疗进展，转移是癌症患者最危及生命的事件。近年来，含有肿瘤和肿瘤干细胞的血液样本因其能够实时准确地描绘转移而获得了强烈的研究兴趣。然而，现有的血液检测技术的复杂协议是低灵敏度和需要隔离，在检测转移的主要障碍。这项合作将瑞尔森大学（RU）的技术发明与威斯康星州，密尔沃基（UWM）的癌症级联的发现相结合，开发出一种基于量子传感器的诊断工具，通过简单的干实验室血液测试来检测癌症转移的发生。我们将在分子水平上研究癌症转移级联反应，以确定早期癌症转移诊断的标志物。研究结果将有可能从根本上改变基于血液的诊断方法，并创造一种低成本、易于操作、快速的诊断方法，以血液作为主要信息来源来捕捉癌症转移的发生。研究结果将导致一种微创、广泛可用的临床评估工具，用于常规床边使用，适用于大多数常见类型的癌症，用于高度准确的床旁诊断，改善治疗效果，拯救生命，降低癌症治疗的成本。制造该设备的新分拆业务将在机械工程和生物医学行业创造就业机会，加强加拿大的经济基础和经济增长。

Cancer metastasis refers to cancer cell spread to tissues and organs beyond tumor origin and the formation of new tumors. The process is a cascade of biological events that are unclear due to its complex nature. Detecting early-stage metastasis remains challenging. Despite recent clinical treatment advances, metastasis is the most life-threatening event for cancer patients. In recent years, blood samples containing tumor and tumor stem cells, have gained intense research interest, for their possibility to accurately portray metastasis in real-time. However, sophisticated protocols of existing blood test technologies is of low sensitivity and requires isolation, a major roadblocks in detection of metastasis.This collaboration merges the technological invention of Ryerson University (RU) with findings in cancer cascading from University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee (UWM) to develop a quantum-sensor based diagnostic tool to detect cancer metastasis onset with a simple dry-lab blood test. We will investigate cancer metastasis cascades at a molecular level to identify markers for early stage cancer metastasis diagnosis. Results will have potential to radically change blood-based diagnostic approaches and create a low-cost, easy-to-operate, rapid diagnostic method that captures cancer metastasis onset with blood as a primary source of information.Findings will lead to a minimally invasive, broadly available clinical assessment tool for routine bedside use, applicable to most common types of cancer, for highly accurate point-of-care diagnosis, improving treatment outcomes, saving lives, and reducing costs of cancer treatment. New spin-off businesses to manufacture the device will generate employment opportunities in mechanical engineering and biomedical industries, strengthening Canada's economic base and economic growth.