mettactics on sing tao Educational Column

Summary:

This article discusses the innovative research conducted by Dr. Sophia Lam, the CEO of MetTactics, and her team at the University of Hong Kong on the development of a microfluidic chip for the rapid identification of cancer metastasis cells. The chip, known as MoC (Metastasis-on-a-Chip), provides a unique platform for capturing and studying cancer cells with the ability to spread to other organs. The research aims to revolutionize cancer treatment by enabling doctors to develop personalized treatment strategies for patients within a few days, rather than months. The chip utilizes a three-dimensional environment that closely mimics the natural tumor microenvironment, allowing researchers to study the behavior of cancer cells more accurately. The technology combines physical and biological indicators to enrich metastatic cells from a large tumor sample and analyze their genetic and molecular characteristics. In addition to diagnosis, the microfluidic chip can also be used to test the effectiveness and toxicity of different cancer treatments, improving the chances of successful treatment and reducing side effects. The research initially focuses on ovarian cancer but aims to expand to other major cancer types such as lung, breast, liver, and prostate cancer. The ultimate goal is to bring the microfluidic chip to the market and contribute to the control of cancer metastasis and related mortality rates.