Correlation between trophoblast cell-surface antigen-2 (TROP-2) expression measured using conjugated Gold nanoparticles and ADC response in breast cancer cells.

According to a WHO report in 2022, one in five people are at risk of developing cancer, but only 39% of countries provide comprehensive health coverage. The most common cancers are lung, breast, and colorectal. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy, while common, present challenges due to their side effects and low specificity. New targeted therapies, such as immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, offer promising options. For example, trastuzumab helps the immune system target tumors, while antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), such as trastuzumab-deruxtecan, direct drugs directly to cancer cells. These treatments require precise identification of tumor proteins, usually by immunohistochemistry (IHC) after biopsy, but this method can reach an error rate of 30%, particularly for the low expression of the Her2 protein in breast cancer. In response to these challenges, researchers at Polytechnique Montréal, under the direction of Professor Meunier, have developed a plasmonic nanoparticle technology. This technology improves the accuracy of protein detection and quantification and enables multiplexing, thus offering a potentially more reliable solution for the diagnosis and treatment of cancers.

Faculty Supervisor:

Michel Meunier

Student:

Partner:

Véga BioImaging

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

Polytechnique Montréal

Program: