3D Telomeric Signatures Define Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) and characterize CTC Subpopulations in Intermediate Risk Prostate Cancer Patients

In Canada, 1 in 7 men are likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) testing is currently not recommended in Canada as population based screening test. Prostate cancer, like other tumors, disperses tumor cells into circulation. If effectively isolated, molecularly analyzed and characterized, CTCs are potentially a reliable biomarker for early, efficient prostate cancer diagnosis and management.
Intermediate risk prostate cancer patients are enrolled for this study from Prostate Cancer Centre, Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology (MICB), CancerCare. CTCs are isolated from 3mls of patients’ blood using a size-based filter and their telomeric profiles compared with their clinical data after blind analysis is done.
Preliminary data from the 175 samples analyzed to date shows that this study could lead to earlier diagnosis and personalized management of prostate cancer, which are the main goals of Prostate Cancer Canada.

Faculty Supervisor:

Sabine Mai

Student:

Partner:

Cancer Care (Manitoba);Carl Zeiss Canada

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology

University:

University of Manitoba

Program: