We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
PURITAN MEDICAL

WATERS CORPORATION

Waters Corp. designs, manufactures, sells and services ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC), high performan... read more Featured Products: More products

Download Mobile App




Blood Metabolites Tests Helps Tailor Cancer Treatment

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 15 Jun 2016
As a minimally invasive assessment, plasma metabolomic analysis has the potential to complement direct tumoral measurements and, particularly where cancer biopsies are unavailable, and can report on the integrated output of multiple systems including sites of disease.

Testing for metabolic changes in the blood could indicate whether a cancer drug is working as designed, and by measuring how cancer treatment affects the levels of metabolites, the building blocks of fats and proteins, those levels can be used to assess whether the drug is hitting its intended target.

Scientists at the Institute of Cancer Research (London, UK) and a team of international collaborators measured the levels of 180 blood markers in 41 patients with advanced cancers in a phase I clinical trial. More...
The drug pictilisib is designed to specifically target a molecular pathway in cancer cells, called phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), which has key a role in cell metabolism and is defective in a range of cancer types. As cancers with PI3K defects grow, they can cause a decrease in the levels of metabolites in the bloodstream.

Non-targeted liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) metabolomics was initially used in the preclinical screen as significant changes in plasma metabolites were identified. To follow-up and confirm these preliminary findings, the scientists carried out targeted, quantitative metabolomic analysis by electrospray ionization tandem MS using the AbsoluteIDQ p180 Kit (Biocrates Life Sciences AG, Innsbruck, Austria). Samples were anonymized and analyses were carried out on an Acquity H-class UPLC coupled to Xevo TQ-S triple-quadrupole MS/MS System (Waters Corporation, Milford, MA, USA).

The authors found in a mouse model that the blood levels of 26 different metabolites, which were low prior to therapy, had risen considerably following treatment with pictilisib. Their findings indicated that the drug was hitting its target, and reversing the effects of the cancer on mouse metabolites. Similarly, in humans they found that almost all of the metabolites, 22 out of the initial 26, once again rose in response to pictilisib treatment, as seen in the mice. Blood levels of the metabolites began to increase after a single dose of pictilisib, and were seen to drop again when treatment was stopped, suggesting that the effect was directly related to the drug treatment.

Florence J. Raynaud, PhD, a senior author of the study, said, “We have shown that assessing a patient's metabolites can be a quick and simple way of assessing whether a cancer drug is specifically hitting its intended target in the body. Our study is an important step in the development of new precision cancer therapies, and is the first to show that blood metabolites have real potential to monitor the effects of novel agents. Our method was developed specifically for pictilisib but could now be adapted to discover metabolite markers for other cancer treatments.” The study was published on April 5, 2016, in the journal Molecular Cancer Therapeutics.

Related Links:
Institute of Cancer Research
Biocrates Life Sciences
Waters

Gold Member
Quantitative POC Immunoassay Analyzer
EASY READER+
3-Part Differential Hematology Analyzer
Swelab Alfa Plus Sampler
New
Autoimmune Disease Diagnostic
Chorus ds-DNA-G
New
Gold Member
Blood Gas Analyzer
Stat Profile pHOx
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








DIASOURCE (A Biovendor Company)

Channels

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: The RNA-seq based diagnostic test for pediatric leukemia ensures better outcomes for children with this common cancer (Photo courtesy of Qlucore)

RNA-Seq Based Diagnostic Test Enhances Diagnostic Accuracy of Pediatric Leukemia

A new unique test is set to reshape the way Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (BCP-ALL) samples can be analyzed. Qlucore (Lund, Sweden) has launched the first CE-marked RNA-seq based diagnostic test for pediatric... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: CitoCBC is the world first cartridge-based CBC to be granted CLIA Waived status by FDA (Photo courtesy of CytoChip)

Disposable Cartridge-Based Test Delivers Rapid and Accurate CBC Results

Complete Blood Count (CBC) is one of the most commonly ordered lab tests, crucial for diagnosing diseases, monitoring therapies, and conducting routine health screenings. However, more than 90% of physician... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: A simple blood test could replace surgical biopsies for early detecion of heart transplant rejection (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

Blood Test Detects Organ Rejection in Heart Transplant Patients

Following a heart transplant, patients are required to undergo surgical biopsies so that physicians can assess the possibility of organ rejection. Rejection happens when the recipient’s immune system identifies... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.