Researchers across Europe are hoping to develop new technology to help combat two of the most aggressive brain cancers.
Lab-on-Chip
A European research collaboration of biologists and electronic engineers will develop microtechnology devices that will be able to identify and treat Glioblastoma multiforme and Medulloblastomacancer stem cells.
Scientists believe that stem cells can cause certain cancers to keep recurring as they persist beyond current treatments and can cause tumour regrowth.
The project includes teams at Bangor University in Wales, Limoges University in France, IHP Microelectronics in Germany and the Universities of Padua and Rome in Italy.
The researchers will first develop a new fast, transportable and reliable ‘laboratory on a chip’ method of quickly identifying the type of cancer cells involved. Currently there is a delay of up to 40 days post-biopsy for diagnosing brain tumours stem cells using traditional laboratory methods.
Identification of the cancer cell type will be done by discriminating the cells according to how they move or react when ionising electromagnetic fields are delivered to them on the surface of the chip. The electronic engineers are able to differentiate between healthy and various types of cancerous cells by the way they react to the electromagnetic waves both in the microwave and in the optical range.
The researchers believe that by exploiting the specific ways that cells move and react, demonstrated through their micro laboratory approach, they can potentially neutralise cancer stem cells in the chip. They believe this will help advance the development of novel electrosurgical tools to treat the cancerous stem cells in-situ at the tumour site.
The researchers have recently used a microscopic chip for radiation-based sorting of Glioblastoma cells depending on their treatment resistance and aggressiveness.
Arnaud Pothier from Limoges said “We are very happy with the current state of the project. Our collaboration is achieving its most critical and work intensive phase and the preliminary results are very promising. We are hoping for continued success in a challenging field where available diagnostic and therapeutic options are limited.”
The researchers are working with the Wales-based company Creo Medical, a manufacturer of medical devices for localised treatment of breast and bowel cancers.
The project is set to run for 42 months and is funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 framework Programme.