Capturing cancer
Nature Nanotechnology
September 30, 2013
Cells that help to drive the spread of cancer throughout the body can be detected with high sensitivity in early-stage cancer patients using a novel nanomaterial-based chip. The findings, reported online this week in Nature Nanotechnology, suggest that the isolation and recovery of these cells could inform the diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients.
Sunitha Nagrath and colleagues have developed a graphene oxide-based chip that can capture rare circulating tumour cells that detach from the existing tumour and can get carried in the bloodstream to other tissues, thus spreading cancer. Using their nanoscale device, the researchers can select for these cancerous cells from healthy blood cells and analyse them for cancer-related biomarkers. The team believes that these biomarkers will provide insights into the character of the cancer and potentially influence the management of the disease.
doi:10.1038/nnano.2013.194
Research highlights
-
Dec 6
Ecology: Wildfire may benefit forest batsScientific Reports
-
Dec 5
Astrophysics: Looking directly at the SunNature
-
Dec 4
Biomedical engineering: Neuron on a chipNature Communications
-
Dec 4
Environment: Levels of lithium in waterways of Seoul assessedNature Communications
-
Dec 3
Prenatal androgen exposure linked with polycystic ovarian syndrome riskNature Medicine
-
Dec 3
Climate Change: Hot temperatures and early childbirthNature Climate Change
