One Step Ahead of Bone Cancer Spread
Osteosarcoma is the most common bone cancer and primarily affects children, adolescents, and young adults. Unfortunately, when the disease spreads and forms metastases, the prognosis becomes extremely poor: only one in five patients survives five years after diagnosis. Detecting this progression at its earliest signs would enable faster, more targeted interventions and, ultimately, help save lives.
Detecting Markers Through a Blood Test
To address this challenge, Huiyan Li and her team, from the University of Guelph, is working to identify specific biological signals in the blood that could indicate whether an osteosarcoma is likely to spread. With the financial support of the Cancer Research Society (CRS), her research focuses on proteins carried by extracellular vesicles, tiny capsules released by cancer cells. These vesicles contain key information about cancer activity and aggressiveness, sometimes long before metastases become visible on medical imaging.
The research team uses an innovative platform capable of detecting these proteins at extremely low concentrations, with high sensitivity compared to traditional methods. By comparing blood samples from patients whose cancer has spread with those whose it has remained localized, the study aims to identify reliable markers. The ultimate goal is to develop a simple tool to predict high-risk patients earlier.
This grant provides us with invaluable resources to advance our work. It allows us to recruit skilled staff and purchase the necessary lab reagents and materials to carry out the project. Thanks to this support, the project will pave the way for developing a blood test to predict the metastatic potential of the disease, crucial for patients.
Your impact
This research is helping to expand the concept of cancer detection. Detecting cancer is not only about identifying it at diagnosis, but also about monitoring how it evolves and recognizing signs of progression before the disease becomes critical. Thanks to the support of the Cancer Research Society and its donors, new technologies are being developed, more precise and less invasive tools that enable earlier intervention, bringing real benefits to patients.
Project Title: Discovery of Extracellular Vesicle Markers for Predicting the Metastatic Potential of Osteosarcoma
Ontario
2024-2026,
$130,000
Project co-funded with
