Australian researchers “print” cancer cells in 3D and analyze them after receiving a $2 million grant for investment in technology using artificial intelligence software.
Macquarie University and the Australian Cancer Research Foundation published a joint project on Wednesday to provide individualized cancer treatments to patients with tumors that are rare or difficult to treat.
The project, which will be carried out at NSW’s Advanced Cancer Modeling Centre, aims to determine why certain cancers, such as certain melanomas, do not respond to treatment as expected.
Related Articles Block Placeholders
Article ID: 314492
The idea behind the high-tech approach comes from treating women with rare thyroid cancer, said Jenny Lee, an associate professor at Macquarie University.
The patient’s tumor indicated that she should receive treatment in a specific “class” but it was not clear which medication would be most effective.
“What we did was we got a small piece of her tissue, we tested the tissue with a variety of drugs, and in the tests we did in the lab, we had a 100% response,” Dr. Lee said.
“That’s where the idea came from and, in addition to all the other information, we can use the patient’s own tumor to guide the treatment that is most likely to respond to.”
Professor Helen Rizos of Macquarie School of Medicine said the Cancer Modeling Center is taking it a step further with the use of the technology to artificially replicate cells from patients’ tumors using 3D bioprinters.
“It prints tumor cells, and it’s like an inkjet printer where an individual may be at home but may be far more fantastical,” she said.
“We take those little prints and are like little gels — and we can handle them with our clinically available treatments.”
Researchers at the center use AI software to analyze cells grown in the lab to determine the number of specific treatments, Dr. Rizos said.
If effective, the center can provide individualized cancer treatment recommendations in just 10 days.
Related Articles Block Placeholders
Article ID: 310712
“The most important thing is to do it in real time, so it could help you return to your clinician and inform your clinical decisions,” Dr. Lisos said.
The medical technology purchased with the $2 million grant included an advanced imaging platform that tracks up to 40 cancer markers at a time, as well as light sheet and live cell imaging microscopes to examine tumors.
The Australian Cancer Research Foundation issued funds to the university under its 2023 grant program.
CEO Kelly Stridam said the group hopes that its innovative approach will provide a fresh way to save lives.
Providing personalized treatments could also eliminate unnecessary distress among cancer patients by identifying the best treatment for the first time.
“If we don’t have this facility, we might test one treatment, and it might work for a while before it stops working, or it might not work at all,” Strydom said.
“You’re going to shorten your time to get the most effective treatment. This is very promising and exciting.”
Researchers at the center will use 3D printed melanoma cells to better understand treatment resistance to identify why some tumors do not respond to immunotherapy.
This article was first published by AAP.
Don’t miss the story: Sign up for Smartcompany’s free daily newsletter and find the best stories on LinkedIn.
