Work Published in 360Dx Highlights KU CBM2 Work

A recent article published by 360Dx highlights work being done by CBM² researchers titled, “University of Kansas Researchers, BioFluidica Develop Microfluidic-Based Diagnostic for Cancer.”

Researchers at the University of Kansas have developed a microfluidic technology to detect and isolate circulating plasma cells (CPCs) in patients diagnosed with clonal plasma cell disorders (PCD) including multiple myeloma.

BioFluidica, a San Diego, California-based startup, is using the technology for research purposes, but plans to submit an application to the US Food and Drug Administration for marketing clearance.

While the technology can be used for a variety of cancer types, for now the emphasis will be on multiple myeloma, according to the researchers. Often undiagnosed until later stages, multiple myeloma causes white blood cells to produce abnormal antibodies. The plasma cells can also form a mass in the bone marrow or soft tissue. In advanced stages, the condition may cause bone pain, bleeding, frequent infections, and anemia.

Researchers typically detect multiple myeloma based on blood or urine tests that find abnormal antibodies. In addition, they can search for cancerous plasma cells in the patient's bones using invasive bone marrow aspiration and biopsies. However, each tissue biopsy can cost up to $5,000 and can only be performed every six months due to the pain it causes the patient. In addition, many cancers like multiple myeloma can metastasize in the period between biopsies and potentially kill patients between each diagnostic test.

In a study published in Integrative Biology, the researchers evaluated the ability of a sinusoidal microfluidic device to affinity-select CPCs for different PCDs, as well as to release CPCs and perform cytogenetic and molecular analysis on the enriched cells.