MILAN, Sept. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Tethis S.p.A., a
pioneer in the development of a standardized liquid biopsy
platform, announces a collaboration with Weill Cornell Medicine to
test Tethis' instruments for monitoring the response to
curative treatment in patients with early-stage breast cancer. The
scientists will collect blood from the patients and will measure
the number and kind of tumor cells (cellular residual disease) and
DNA (molecular residual disease) released from the tumor in the
blood.
The research, which will take place in the laboratory of Dr.
Massimo Cristofanilli, a Professor
of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, and at Tethis, will focus on
patients with early-stage breast cancer who are given drugs to
reduce tumor size, prior to surgery to remove the tumors. Blood
samples will be collected at key points: diagnosis, post-treatment
initiation, and multiple times after surgery. As part of the
collaboration, Tethis has placed one of its automated See.d
instruments in the Cristofanilli lab, and the lab will use the
instrument to isolate plasma and prepare cytology slides containing
cells, including circulating tumor cells, from the blood.
The Cristofanilli lab will analyze the isolated plasma samples
for cell-free DNA (cfDNA), while Tethis scientists will examine the
isolated cells for circulating tumor cells (CTCs). The scientists
will combine their results and examine them in the light of how the
people being treated actually fared, and will publish the results
together. The results could guide individualized treatment for
people with early-stage breast cancer in the future.
"This collaboration with Weill Cornell Medicine contributes
to our ongoing development initiatives in breast cancer
research.," states Dr. Holger
Neecke, CEO of Tethis. "Our See.d instrument prepares
high-quality samples, ensuring precise measurement of both cellular
and cell-free tumor markers in blood. The unbiased assessment of
cancer and immune cells and cell clusters on our nano-coated Smart
BioSurface® (SBS) slides provides valuable insights into tumor
evolution. Building on our previous promising results in detecting
CTCs in EBC, this study aims to further explore these biomarkers'
potential in monitoring disease progression and guiding treatment
decisions."
"This approach integrates the analysis of CTCs and cfDNA,
enabling a multi-omic liquid biopsy from a single, minimally
invasive blood draw. The possibility to integrate molecular and
cellular residual disease in a single test might impact the
sensitivity for the detection of residual disease after
surgery," says Dr. Carolina
Reduzzi, an Assistant Professor of Cancer Biology Research
in Medicine and Director of the Liquid Biopsy Platform of the
Englander Institute for Precision Medicine (EIPM) at Weill Cornell
Medicine.
"The development and clinical validation of a potentially
more sensitive and informative method for detecting minimal
residual disease in patients with EBC may help facilitate a switch
to a truly personalized clinical management of these patients,
which may improve outcomes and reduce the risk of
recurrence," says Dr. Cristofanilli, Director of
Breast Medical Oncology and Scientific Director of EIPM at Weill
Cornell Medicine.
The See.d instrument and SmartBioSurface® slides are
for Research Use Only and are not intended for use in diagnostic
procedures.
About See.d
See.d is the first universal blood sample preparator for liquid
biopsy analysis, automating and standardizing preparation at the
point of collection. It stabilizes the cellular fraction on
nanocoated SmartBioSurface® slides for detecting rare cells like
CTCs, while plasma is made available for the analysis of cfDNA,
cfRNA/miRNA, proteins, metabolites, and exosomes. By processing
fresh blood in EDTA tubes shortly after collection, See.d maintains
sample integrity and clinical value.
About SmartBioSurface® slides
Nanocoated SmartBioSurface® (SBS) slides enable the spontaneous
adhesion of non-adhering cells and are compatible with a range of
pathology techniques, including cytology, immunocytochemistry,
immunofluorescence, and FISH. They ensure efficient cell adhesion,
maintain cell morphology, and provide optimal monolayer
distribution, supporting multiplexing and AI-powered digital
imaging for the automated detection and profiling of rare
circulating tumor and immune cells. Furthermore, identified cells
can be recovered through microdissection for single-cell molecular
analysis.
About Tethis
Tethis is a diagnostic company engaged in the development of an
innovative workflow to integrate liquid biopsy into clinical
practice, offering precise cancer management. Tethis' technology
focuses on standardizing the preparation of blood samples to ensure
the highest quality and integrity of liquid biopsy specimens. This
approach facilitates a comprehensive analysis of all clinically
relevant biomarkers. The company's nanocoated SBS slides, in
conjunction with the See.d instrument, enable the identification
and characterization of rare cells in the blood, such as
circulating tumor cells, with unparalleled sensitivity, even in
early-stage settings. The company is headquartered in Milan, Italy. More information can be found at
www.tethis-lab.com.
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