Groundbreaking Effort to Improve Early Detection and Treatment Monitoring
UCLA researchers are developing a novel diagnostic test to detect the spread of cancer to the central nervous system on the same day as a doctor’s visit, addressing a critical need in the fight against leptomeningeal disease (LMD), a severe complication of cancer.
The Challenge of Detecting LMD
Leptomeningeal disease occurs when cancer metastasizes to the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), dramatically lowering survival rates. With treatment, median survival is approximately four months; without treatment, it’s only a few weeks. Currently, diagnosing LMD can take weeks, delaying treatment and worsening outcomes.
Dr. Won Kim, Neurosurgical Director of the Brain Metastasis Program at UCLA, stresses that waiting months to confirm a diagnosis or assess treatment effectiveness is unacceptable, given the disease’s aggressive nature.
A New Approach to LMD Detection
In a study funded by the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Kim and Professor Daniel Kamei are working to create a rapid diagnostic test capable of detecting LMD and monitoring treatment effectiveness in real-time. The test aims to provide doctors with both the presence and concentration of cancer cells in CSF, using a paper-based assay similar to at-home pregnancy tests.
Overcoming Technical Challenges
Detecting low concentrations of cancer cells in CSF presents significant hurdles. Unlike tests for COVID-19 or pregnancy, which provide a simple “yes or no” answer, this test must quantify cancer cell levels to gauge treatment effectiveness. The challenge lies in creating a test that not only detects cancer cells but also tracks changes in their concentration over time.
Revolutionizing LMD Diagnosis
Current methods for LMD detection require sending CSF to a lab, with results taking one to two weeks. These tests also have low initial accuracy (about 50%) and do not measure disease burden, limiting their usefulness in monitoring treatment progress. The new diagnostic kit would provide immediate results at the point of care, potentially transforming patient outcomes by allowing doctors to adjust treatment regimens quickly.
Cost-Effective and Scalable Solution
The test’s paper-based format could also reduce costs and improve accessibility. Kamei highlights the potential for mass production of low-cost, high-shelf-life diagnostics that could benefit patients worldwide.
Looking Ahead: Testing and Clinical Trials
The study, funded by a $375,000 NIH grant, will first test the technology with cancer cell samples before moving to patient samples. If successful, the next step will be a multicenter clinical trial to validate the technology in real-world settings. Initial results are expected by 2026.
By enabling same-day detection and real-time treatment monitoring, this innovation could significantly improve the prognosis for patients with leptomeningeal disease.
Date:Oct 17 2024
Source:University of California – Los Angeles Health Science
