A collaborative research team from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and Sun Yat-sen University in China has developed a cutting-edge single-cell imaging platform designed to enhance precision in cancer drug evaluation and tumor profiling. The breakthrough holds promise for improving treatment outcomes and personalizing therapies for individual patients.
The newly introduced technology, called iSCAPE (integrated Single-Cell Analysis Platform for Evaluating drug response), allows researchers to analyze the phenotypic responses of cancer cells at the single-cell level. Unlike traditional methods that assess drug responses from bulk tissue samples — which may mask critical heterogeneity among cells — iSCAPE provides ultrahigh spatial resolution. This feature enables researchers to map how individual cells within a tumor respond to different anti-cancer drugs.
During the study, the research team tested the platform using clinical tumor samples from cancer patients. Results demonstrated that iSCAPE could accurately identify drug-resistant and drug-sensitive cell populations within a single tumor. This allows for a more detailed understanding of tumor behavior and the development of targeted therapeutic strategies.
The technology integrates RNA imaging, multiplexed protein profiling, and automated data analysis. It also leverages advanced imaging techniques to visualize hundreds of biomarkers simultaneously, allowing for comprehensive tumor characterization in unprecedented detail.
Professor Angela Wu, one of the leading scientists from HKUST, emphasized the importance of understanding tumor complexity in order to provide patients with effective treatment. “Our platform opens up new possibilities in precision oncology by enabling clinicians to tailor drug therapies based on cellular-level tumor responses,” she said.
In preclinical trials, iSCAPE showed high consistency and robustness across various cancer types, including lung, breast, and colorectal cancers. The team is now preparing for larger-scale validations and aims to collaborate with hospitals and pharmaceutical companies to bring the platform closer to clinical application.
This innovation represents a significant advancement in cancer research, offering a viable path toward more effective and personalized therapies that can adapt to the complexity of each patient’s disease profile.
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