Detection of Circulating Tumor Cells in Uveal Melanoma by the Photoacoustic Method

Authors

Ryan M. Weight, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PAFollow
Shingo Sato, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PAFollow
Masahiro Ohara, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PAFollow
Mizue Terai, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PAFollow
Michael Mastrangelo, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PAFollow
Marlana Orloff, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PAFollow
Benjamin Goldschmidt, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA
John Viator, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA
Takami Sato, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PAFollow

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Description

Abstract

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have been shown to be a prognostic marker in breast cancer¹. We hypothesize that circulating melanoma cell (CMC) detection could be utilized in the management of uveal melanoma, including early intervention. Prior methodologies for circulating uveal melanoma cell (CUMC) detection have been fraught with poor sensitivity, limiting their clinical utility². Development of an improved method is necessary to establish the clinical utility of CUMC monitoring. Photoacoustics, also referred to as laser-induced ultrasound, is a novel platform for the detection and capture of CMCs. Photoacoustics uses short duration pulsed light to create ultrasonic acoustic waves in an optically absorbing medium, in this case melanin within melanoma³. As light is absorbed by irradiated chromophores, the optical energy gets converted into kinetic thermal energy trapped within the chromophore and subsequent thermal expansion ensues. Transient thermoelastic expansion of the absorbent cell results in the propagation of ultrasonic acoustic waves which can be detected and analyzed using a piezoelectric response mechanism. In addition, detected CMCs can be isolated by a two-phase flow cell separation technique⁴. Due to the low cost and melanoma specific capabilities of photoacoustics, we evaluated this technology for the purpose of CUMC detection.

Methods: Cells from uveal melanoma cell line UM002B, established at Thomas Jefferson, were titrated to various cell concentrations and analyzed in a neutral density solution utilizing the photoacoustic method. Uveal melanoma cells of differing concentrations were spiked into isolated healthy donor peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and healthy whole blood samples. PBMC isolates were analyzed for CUMCs.

Results: CUMCs were successfully quantified by the photoacoustic method including single cell detection. Recovery rates of cultured cells in a neutral density solution approached 25%. Recovery rates for CUMCs in whole blood averaged 10% of expected cell yield (56/540 cells detected) with a higher detection rate at lower cell concentrations. Photoacoustics offers a viable method for the detection of CUMCs with an accuracy that meets or exceeds previously reported CUMC yields. Studies analyzing CUMCs from patients with metastatic disease are ongoing.

Publication Date

4-17-2016

Keywords

Detection of Circulating Tumor Cells in Uveal Melanoma by the Photoacoustic Method, Thomas Jefferson University, Department of Medical Oncology, poster

Disciplines

Oncology

Comments

Poster presented at: 2016 AACR in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Recommended Citation

Weight, Ryan M.; Sato, Shingo; Ohara, Masahiro; Terai, Mizue; Mastrangelo, Michael; Orloff, Marlana; Goldschmidt, Benjamin; Viator, John; and Sato, Takami, "Detection of Circulating Tumor Cells in Uveal Melanoma by the Photoacoustic Method" (2016). Department of Medical Oncology Posters. 3.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/medoncposters/3