Jianyu Rao
David Geffen School of Medicine-UCLA, USA
Title: Nanocytology as a novel biomarker for cancer
Biography
Biography: Jianyu Rao
Abstract
The hallmark of cancer is the invasive and metastatic nature of the disease. Cancer cell invasion and metastasis are partly regulated by altered cytoskeletal structures that result from the complex interplay of activation/inactivation of multiple signaling pathways regulating these cellular events, which can occur at either the genetic or epigenetic level. Thus, attempts to accurately assess these physiologically relevant mechanical properties of cancer cells using single, or even multiple marker profiles at the DNA, RNA, or protein level, may not be effective. Recently, we showed that cancer cell mechanical properties, or mechanotypic biomarkers, including cell elasticity and deformability can be directly and accurately measured by state of the art, label-free technologies at the single cell level. These mechanical properties of cells can be a marker for cancer cell behavior including invasion, metastasis and drug response. We developed an approach that uses mechanotypic profiling to complement morphological and molecular analyses, a process called “Nanocytology” which collectively enable robust and high throughput measurements and can potentially be implemented even in resources poor areas. The nanocytology approach combined with targeted delivery of nanoparticles with molecular-tailored anti-cancer agents may provide a more effective alternative for cancer detection and management.