MICROSCREEN (version 1)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Identification of single circulating tumour cells in blood with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. A further step in liquid biopsies.
IRAS ID
334296
Contact name
Josep Sulé-Suso
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Keele University
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 11 months, 28 days
Research summary
Liquid biopsies are slowly changing the management of cancer. Identifying circulating tumour cells (CTCs) in blood improves tumour screening, staging, and follow up. However, present methods to identify these CTCs are not robust enough. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) microspectroscopy, which can biochemically separate individual cells could help in this quest. We have shown that FTIR microspectroscopy together with Random Forest classifier identifies a single lung cancer cell in blood spiked with cancer cells [Dowling, PLOS One, 2023]. The next step is to bring this methodology to clinics. Thus, the overarching aim of the project is to establish analysis protocols of FTIR microspectroscopy able to identify single CTCs in blood of cancer patients. This will be achieved through the following objectives:
(1) Identifying CTCs in blood samples by means of FTIR microspectroscopy.
(2) Setting up the basis for robust mathematical algorithms based on machine learning of FTIR microspectroscopy for CTCs recognition in blood.
(3) Setting up the basis to bring FTIR microspectroscopy to clinical practice.
(4) Involving pathology staff in the clinical application of FTIR microspectroscopy.
To this purpose, blood samples (10 mL) will be obtained. FTIR spectra of cytospun samples will be prepared from both individual cancer cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Mathematical algorithms will be developed to identify single cancer cells in blood of cancer patients. Participants will be patients attending the Cancer Centre, University Hospital of North Midlands where the chief investigator carries his clinical duties. Based on our previous work [Dowling, PLOS One, 2023], 400 patients with different types of cancer will be included over a period of 5 years, providing enough single cancer cells in blood for algorithm development. This game changer work will lead towards FTIR microspectroscopy being a robust, objective and automated methodology to identify CTCs in blood of cancer patients.
REC name
West Midlands - Black Country Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/WM/0272
Date of REC Opinion
25 Jan 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion