ctDNA is released from dying cancer cells and circulates in the bloodstream. Current liquid biopsy tests can detect ctDNA, but the amount is often too low for reliable detection. Researchers solve this problem by temporarily slowing down the removal of ctDNA from the body.
They created two types of injectable molecules called “priming agents” that target the body’s mechanisms for eliminating ctDNA. One agent binds to ctDNA, protecting it from destruction by enzymes, while the other mimics the nanoparticle, distracting macrophages, immune cells that engulf and remove ctDNA.
In mice, the primers increased the level of ctDNA by 60-fold; This made it possible to detect ctDNA in the early stages of lung metastases, which were impossible to detect without primers. This suggests that primers can significantly increase the sensitivity of liquid biopsies for early cancer detection.
The researchers say their method is easy to use and has rapid onset and recovery times. They created Amplifier Bio to further develop the technology and introduce it to clinical trials.
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Source: Ferra
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