Chinese scientists have developed a first-of-its-kind purifier capable of removing breakaway tumour cells that circulate through the bloodstream, potentially preventing the recurrence and spread of some cancers.
The Shanghai Jiao Tong University-led team said the proof-of-concept platform could lower the risk of metastasis – the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide – in a peer-reviewed research paper published on November 2.
When tested in mouse models of breast cancer, the device effectively removed the breakaway cells, delaying tumour relapse and extending survival, according to the paper in the journal Microsystems & Nanoengineering, part of the Nature portfolio.