- This method precisely identifies tissue damage by analyzing cell-free DNA, offering higher accuracy compared to traditional methods.
- Continuous monitoring allows for timely intervention, ensuring patients receive better care throughout their treatment journey.
- The minimally invasive nature of liquid biopsies allows for serial sampling to monitor changes over time.
OVERVIEW
Georgetown University researchers created a novel health monitoring approach through a method that examines cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in biospecimens to pinpoint tissue damage origins and severity. By analyzing methylation patterns in cfDNA, the technology accurately identifies cellular sources and tissue damage, whether from toxins, environmental factors, or medical treatments like chemotherapy. This precise analysis allows for tailored treatments, maximizing efficacy while minimizing side effects. Real-time monitoring facilitates timely interventions, reducing complications and healthcare costs. The impact extends to oncology and pharmacology, aiding treatment decisions and drug safety assessments.
BACKGROUND
The human body often encounters agents causing tissue damage, including pathogens, environmental factors like sunlight, or medical treatments like chemotherapy or radiation. However, accurately assessing such damage poses challenges. Traditional methods like chemotherapy not only target tumors but also affect healthy tissues, necessitating precise monitoring. Current imaging modalities offer limited insight and may miss concurrent changes, which is crucial for guiding therapy decisions. Moreover, radiation therapy, while effective against tumors, can damage healthy tissues, leading to complications. The ability to distinguish different cell types contributing to toxicities using cell-free DNA (cfDNA) analysis in blood samples could significantly impact therapy decisions. By analyzing cfDNA methylation patterns, this innovative technology accurately identifies tissue damage sources and severity, bringing new solutions to healthcare monitoring. Such precise analysis enables tailored treatments, reduces complications, and the minimally invasive nature of liquid biopsies allows for serial sampling to monitor changes over time, especially under selective pressures from ongoing therapy.
Benefit
The method accurately identifies tissue damage origins and severity, enabling precise treatmentapproaches.
Tailored treatments based on individual tissue damage profiles and offer continuous monitoring,allowing timely interventions, enhancing patient care, and reducing healthcare costs.
Market Application
● Oncology: Monitoring tissue damage in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiationtherapy to optimize treatment regimens and minimize side effects.
● Drug Development and Safety Assessment: Assessing tissue damage in preclinical and clinicalstudies of pharmaceuticals and biotechnology products to ensure safety and efficacy.
● Biotechnology: Development of innovative diagnostic tools and treatments.
Publications
● PCT Application No. PCT/US22/03824
● Circulating cell-free methylated DNA reveals tissue-specific, cellular damage from radiationtreatment. JCI Insight. 2023 Jul 24;8(14):e156529. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.156529
● Detection of Cell Types Contributing to Cancer From Circulating, Cell-Free Methylated DNA. FrontGenet. 2021 Jul 27;12:671057. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2021.671057
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