Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent and concerning diseases affecting women worldwide. A lot of ongoing research focuses on the development of breast cancer diagnostics to identify and characterize breast tumors, enabling healthcare professionals to determine the stage and type of cancer, as well as to guide treatment decisions. In this blog post, we will explore the latest advancements in breast cancer research, with an emphasis on the impact of SCIENION’s precision microdispensing technology on breast cancer diagnostics and treatment innovations.

Genomic Profiling:

One of the most significant breakthroughs in breast cancer research is the use of genomic profiling to better understand the genetic landscape of tumors. Genomic profiling analyzes cancer cells’ DNA to identify specific genetic mutations or alterations that drive tumor growth. Genomic profiling methods utilize Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), which requires the precise handling of liquid to create libraries for sequencing.  SCIENION’s sciFLEXARRAYER precision microdispensers as well as Cellenion’s single cell isolation and nanoliter dispening solution cellenONE have enabled the development of the DLP+¹ scalable single-cell whole-genome sequencing platform, which has demonstrated tremendous potential for predicting cancer evolution and drug resistance².  The information obtained by genomic profiling allows for more precise and personalized treatment plans, as certain genetic mutations respond better to targeted therapies. Genomic profiling also allows for the identification of individuals at higher risk of breast cancer, enabling proactive preventive measures.

Biomarker Identification

Biomarkers provide valuable information about the presence, behavior, and characteristics of breast cancer. SCIENION’s liquid handling and microarray technologies can be used to detect and validate biomarkers associated with breast cancer. For instance, it has been utilized to develop a multimodal cellphone-based platform, named EpiView-D4, that can evaluate both cellular morphology and molecular expression of clinically relevant biomarkers directly from fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of breast tissue specimens within 1 h³. Another study using microdispensing describes a biosensor point-of-care diagnostics for real-time detection of breast cancer extracellular vesicles encompassing exosomes⁴. Biomarker identification in breast cancer research is an ongoing, multidisciplinary endeavor with the goal of more personalized and effective patient care.

Liquid Biopsies:

Liquid biopsies have emerged as a less invasive alternative to traditional tissue biopsy, providing valuable information about tumor characteristics and therapy response. These tests involve analyzing blood or other bodily fluids to detect tumor cells or DNA fragments released by cancer cells. An antibody microarray test, which utilizes SCIENION’s microdispenser sciFLEXARRAYER S3 as well as liquid biopsies, was published by Allelein et al. (2021)⁵. The test was developed to identify extracellular vesicles from liquid biopsies in a fast and economical way with the potential to detect cancer at earlier stages and monitor treatment effectiveness, leading to more efficient and personalized care.

Precision Medicine

Precision medicine, also known as personalized medicine, is an innovative medical approach that considers individual differences in patients’ genes, environments, and lifestyles. Key components of precision medicine in breast cancer research include targeted therapies, with a strong highlight on immunotherapy. Targeted therapies are designed to fight cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy cells, resulting in fewer side effects. In the case of immunotherapy, the body’s own immune system is utilized to target cancer cells. There are several approaches to immunotherapy, including checkpoint Inhibitors, that help the immune system to better recognize and fight cancer cells. For instance, inhibitory checkpoints molecules such as PD-1 and CTLA4 have been developed to activate antitumor T-cell responses.  A recent study by Lustig et al. (2023)⁶, introduces another checkpoint target, namely the disruption of the sialic acid/Siglec-9 glycan axis, to achieve myeloid checkpoint blockade and hence improve the effectiveness of antibody-based cancer therapies. SCIENION’S technology has helped to manufacture the glycan arrays that were used to analyze the binding of Siglec-9. A further study in the direction of targeted therapies focused on the development of antibodies that target specific glycan structures on cancer cells⁷. Here glycan-specific Nanobodies (Nbs) were manufactured, the smallest antigen-binding domains of heavy-chain-only antibodies using an array with synthetic glycans printed by SCIENION’s microdispensing technology.

Artificial Intelligence (AI):

Artificial intelligence is making remarkable contributions to breast cancer research and diagnosis. AI algorithms can analyze vast amounts of imaging and clinical data, helping radiologists detect subtle abnormalities and improving accuracy in breast cancer diagnosis. AI also aids in predicting treatment response and potential disease recurrence, enabling more informed decision-making and personalized treatment plans.

Conclusion:

The latest advances in breast cancer diagnostics and treatment have opened new avenues for improved patient outcomes. From genomic profiling, identifying biomarkers early on, liquid biopsies, precision medicine to AI technologies, many of these breakthroughs have benefitted from precision microdispensing for method development. Continued research and technological collaboration across disciplines will pave the way for earlier detection and personalized treatment plans bringing us closer to conquering breast cancer and saving more lives.

References:

1. Laks, Emma, et al. “Resource: Scalable whole genome sequencing of 40,000 single cells identifies stochastic aneuploidies, genome replication states and clonal repertoires.” BioRxiv(2018): 411058.
2. Salehi, Sohrab, et al. “Clonal fitness inferred from time-series modelling of single-cell cancer genomes.” Nature7868 (2021): 585-590.
3. Joh, Daniel Y., et al. “Cellphone enabled point-of-care assessment of breast tumor cytology and molecular HER2 expression from fine-needle aspirates.” NPJ Breast Cancer1 (2021): 85.
4. Jahani, Yasaman, et al. “Imaging-based spectrometer-less optofluidic biosensors based on dielectric metasurfaces for detecting extracellular vesicles.” Nature Communications1 (2021): 3246.
5. Allelein, Susann, et al. “Potential and challenges of specifically isolating extracellular vesicles from heterogeneous populations.” Scientific Reports1 (2021): 11585.
6. Lustig, Marta, et al. “Disruption of the sialic acid/Siglec-9 axis improves antibody-mediated neutrophil cytotoxicity towards tumor cells.” Frontiers in Immunology14 (2023): 1178817.
7. Khilji, Sana Khan, et al. “Generation of glycan-specific nanobodies.” Cell Chemical Biology8 (2022): 1353-1361.