liquid biopsy platform firm Tethis and Israel-based Sheba Medical Center have announced a research collaboration to evaluate circulating tumour cells (CTCs) in rectal cancer patients using Tethis' proprietary technology.
The study, led by Professor Iris Barshack will focus on monitoring CTCs and ctDNA in patients with rectal cancer before and after neoadjuvant therapy. Blood samples will be collected at multiple time points to establish baseline CTC levels and track changes throughout treatment. The research aims to evaluate the potential of CTCs combined with ctDNA as a surrogate marker to predict relapse of rectal carcinoma earlier than conventional imaging studies.
Under the agreement, a Tethis See.d instrument (pictured) will be installed at Sheba's Institute of Pathology.
"Working with Sheba represents a significant step in expanding the applications of our liquid biopsy platform," states Dr Holger Neecke, CEO of Tethis. "Our See.d instrument, combined with our nanocoated SmartBioSurface slides, enables standardised preparation of cytology specimens containing immune and tumour cells, suited for sequential multiplexing and interpretation with artificial intelligence, while collecting plasma for cell free DNA analysis."
"This collaboration exemplifies Sheba's commitment to advancing precision medicine through innovative technologies," says Profesor Iris Barshack, Head of the Pathology Institute. "By combining Tethis' cutting-edge liquid biopsy platform with our extensive clinical expertise in oncology, we aim to develop more effective strategies for monitoring treatment response in rectal cancer patients."
Dr Nadia Prisant, Head of the Liquid Biopsy Laboratory, added: "The analysis of the cytology specimens using bright field multi-staining immunohistochemistry and AI-powered algorithms builds upon our successful proof-of-concept studies with model cells, advancing the field of digital cytology in liquid biopsy applications," says. "The ability to prepare high-quality cytology slides at the point of blood collection may provide valuable insights into disease progression and help guide treatment decisions for our patients."
Profesor Ruth Katz, Professor of Pathology at Sheba Medical Centre commented: "With the Tethis See.d instrument we can retrieve the entire population of nucleated cells, including inflammatory cells, histocytes and CTCs from the bloodstream. This gentle collection method enhances the pathologist's ability to detect CTC clusters and single cells, displayed in a unique cellular micro-environment. Through multiplexing of colorectal carcinoma-specific antibodies and localising the membranous, cytoplasm and nuclear proteins, we expect to enhance CTC detection even in very early-stage patients and evaluate the immunoprofile of the inflammatory background cells to guide immunotherapy," adds.
The See.d instrument and SmartBioSurface slides are for Research Use Only and are not intended for use in diagnostic procedures.