EVs as Cancer Biomarkers
Real-time insight into tumor biology, supporting liquid biopsy approaches
Minimally Invasive Analysis
EVs derived from cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts display unique, tumor-specific surface proteins and post-translational modifications. These features enable minimally invasive analysis and provide real-time insight into tumor biology, supporting liquid biopsy approaches.
Disease Detection and Progression Monitoring
Clinically, tumor-derived EVs can improve cancer detection, patient stratification and therapy monitoring. The continuously evolving EV composition captures complex tumor heterogeneity and dynamic changes during disease progression and treatment.
For example, circulating tumor-derived EVs enable longitudinal tracking of genomic and transcriptomic evolution in metastatic cancer. Novel detection strategies, such as targeting oncofetal chondroitin sulphate, enable specific and robust identification of tumor-derived EVs in liquid biopsies such as blood plasma.
Contribution in Cancer Progression
Mechanistically, cancer-derived EVs actively contribute to disease progression. Their integrins, a class of cell-specific adhesion receptors, target specific organs, thereby promoting pre-metastatic niche formation and metastasis. Furthermore, EVs modulate anti-tumor responses and transfer oncogenic signals, highlighting their dual role as both biomarkers and functional mediators of disease.
Top: rVAR2 binds circulating extracellular vesicles derived from pancreatic cancer patient plasma compared to healthy control plasma. Bottom: rVAR2-associated fluorescence signal, quantified by flow cytometry and expressed as molecules of equivalent soluble fluorophores (MESF) per mL, in plasma samples from five pancreatic cancer patients and matched healthy controls.
EVcount is currently operating under the umbrella of Amsterdam University Medical Center to assess business feasibility. The activities are conducted under the supervision of the technology transfer office.
