Cellens Announces Collaboration with Bruker BioAFM to Advance Mechanobiology Technology for Cancer Detection
Cellens, an early-stage cancer diagnostic company, announced a collaboration with Bruker BioAFM to develop the first clinical diagnostic tests using multi-parametric, single-cell biophysical markers and machine learning. Utilizing Bruker's advanced atomic force microscopy, Cellens aims to detect bladder cancer through non-invasive urine tests. The technology has shown high sensitivity and specificity in pilot studies. This collaboration seeks to address the unmet challenges in detecting and monitoring bladder cancer and to improve patient compliance and access to care. The platform may extend to other cancers, providing a non-invasive, cost-effective alternative to current standards.
- Collaboration with Bruker BioAFM to develop novel cancer diagnostic technology.
- High sensitivity and specificity demonstrated in pilot studies for bladder cancer detection.
- Non-invasive diagnostic approach using voided urine samples.
- Potential applications in multiple cancer types.
- Improves patient compliance and access to care.
- Utilizes advanced atomic force microscopy for detailed cell analysis.
- Early-stage development implies potential challenges in scalability and commercialization.
Insights
Cellens' collaboration with Bruker BioAFM marks an important advancement in cancer diagnostics, particularly for bladder cancer. This partnership integrates atomic force microscopy (AFM) with machine learning to create a non-invasive diagnostic platform that analyzes single-cell biophysical markers in voided urine samples. AFM is known for its high sensitivity and specificity in detecting biomechanical properties of cells and integrating this technology with machine learning could revolutionize early cancer detection.
From a medical perspective, this innovation addresses a significant unmet need in bladder cancer diagnosis. Current screening methods are often invasive and costly, involving procedures like cystoscopies. A non-invasive, accurate alternative could significantly improve patient compliance and access to care, making early detection more feasible.
Furthermore, the potential application of this technology to other cancer types could fundamentally change diagnostic practices. By being able to detect cancerous cells in various bodily fluids, the scope of diagnostics is broadened, which may lead to earlier intervention and better patient outcomes.
The collaboration between Cellens and Bruker BioAFM is poised to have substantial financial implications.
For Cellens, this partnership not only validates their technological approach but also opens up avenues for funding and investment. The backing from reputable institutions such as the American Cancer Society and the National Science Foundation suggests a strong foundation and significant interest in their technology.
In the short term, investors might see increased volatility as the companies move through clinical trials and regulatory approvals. However, the long-term outlook appears promising, especially if the technology gains acceptance within the medical community. Successful commercialization could lead to significant market share in the cancer diagnostics industry, which is already substantial and growing.
Retail investors should consider the potential of this technology to disrupt existing diagnostic methods and the financial benefits that could arise from widespread adoption.
From a clinical standpoint, the use of atomic force microscopy combined with machine learning in the detection of bladder cancer represents a significant breakthrough. Current diagnostic methods for bladder cancer, such as cystoscopy and urine cytology, are either invasive or lack sensitivity. The proposed platform by Cellens and Bruker BioAFM offers a non-invasive yet highly sensitive alternative.
The ability to detect cancer biomarkers at the single-cell level through voided urine samples could substantially reduce patient discomfort and improve the frequency and ease of testing. This is particularly valuable for monitoring cancer recurrence, which requires regular surveillance.
The specificity and sensitivity shown in pilot studies are encouraging. If these results are replicated in larger clinical trials, it could lead to a paradigm shift in how bladder cancer and potentially other cancers, are diagnosed and monitored. Such a shift would likely lead to improved patient outcomes due to earlier detection and more timely treatment interventions.
There are clear and unmet challenges in detecting and monitoring the recurrence of bladder cancer that Cellens can address for patients and clinicians. Accurate, non-invasive testing for bladder cancer will enable physicians to guide patients to endoscopic or surgical treatment faster, improve patient compliance, and provide greater access to care.
“Atomic force microscopy is an invaluable tool for studying the biomechanical properties of cancer cells, with recent groundbreaking advances in scanning speeds, throughput, and automation extending its use in diagnostic research,” commented Dr. Heiko Haschke, Director of Bruker’s BioAFM Business. “We look forward to working together with Cellens to unlock novel clinical diagnostic applications for the technology.”
“The collaboration is a significant step forward in our effort to generate large-scale, clinically relevant datasets of cell biophysical properties that enable unprecedented accuracy for non-invasive cancer detection,” added Jean Pham, Co-founder/CEO of Cellens. “As the market leader in BioAFM instrumentation, Bruker brings extensive experience in the development of innovative AFM systems with outstanding automation capabilities and unmatched speed for evaluating challenging biological samples in a clinical setting.”
Cellens’ proprietary platform detects nanoscale, biophysical changes on a single cell level to identify which cells carry cancerous signatures. The technology can have applications in multiple cancers using cells extracted from bodily fluid samples, such as voided urine, smear, and saliva. The company expects to offer non-invasive tests for many cancer types where current standards of care are invasive, costly, and labor-intensive.
About Cellens, Inc: Leveraging the power of cell mechanobiology and machine learning, Cellens provides novel cellular insights on the stage of disease and detects cancer with high accuracy. Originating from a technology invented at Tufts University, the company has been supported by the American Cancer Society’s BrightEdge, the National Science Foundation, and the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240625056154/en/
Jean Pham
Co-Founder/CEO
contact@cellensinc.com
857-285-3227
Source: Cellens, Inc.
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