Significant disparities in incidence and mortality rates for lung cancer are reported among ethnically and racially diverse population. African Americans suffer from lung cancer more than any other population. High mortality rate in lung cancer is due to being diagnosed at a later stage, where treatment options are limited. Our long-term goal is to lay the groundwork for developing novel nanoplatform based device which will provide a more accurate determination of the circulating cancer biomarkers from lung cancer patients in blood screening facilities. The objective of this proposal is to design magnetic-fluorescence multifunctional nanoplatform based device to capture, isolate and detect circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and tumor derived exosomes from blood samples in lung cancer patients and to establish correlations of these findings with survival. Our central hypothesis is that bio-conjugated multicolor fluorescence carbon dots attached magnetic nano-platform can be used to capture multiple types of CTCs and circulating exosomes from blood samples, and as a facile multicolor fluorescence probe for accurate identification of circulating biomarkers. The central hypothesis will be tested by pursuing two specific aims: 1) Developing fluorescence- magnetic nanoplatform for capture, and identification of multiple types of CTCs from lung cancer patient blood and 2) Capture and identification of tumor derived exosomes using nanoplatform and demonstration of clinical applications. The proposed research is significant, because with high sensitivity and real-time detection possibility, CDs attached magnetic nano-platform will be highly promising for detection and identification of several subpopulation types of CTCs and exosomes. The proximate expected outcome of this work is improving the capability of identifying multiple clinically relevant blood based biomarkers in blood screening facilities.
The incidence of lung cancer is disproportionately higher for African American population. Long-term goal of the project is developing a novel nano-platform with capability of early diagnosis of lung cancer. This research aligns with the NIMHD?s vision of ?eliminating health disparities?.
