CityU cancer fighters close in on innovative platform

Cheng Wong

City University researchers are developing an innovative bio-detection platform to enhance the early detection of cancer, with plans for commercialization within two years.

The platform specifically targets circulating tumor cells and is among the first batch of projects funded by the RAISe+ Scheme - a HK$10 billion government project launched in 2023 to help universities commercialize R&D results.

Led by CityU senior vice president (innovation and enterprise) Michael Yang Mengsu and chair professor of biomedical sciences Yeung Kin-man, the groundbreaking research project aims to create a next-generation CTC detection platform with improved sensitivity and specificity for cancer early screening, diagnosis and treatment.

CTCs are tumor cells that shed from the primary tumor into the blood, carrying genetic and cellular information linked to it, Yang said.

"Precision diagnosis and comprehensive analysis of CTCs through multi-omics technologies are crucial for cancer early screening, disease monitoring, as well as the development of cell therapies and mRNA vaccines for specific targets and antigens, further supporting the personalized cancer treatment," he said.

With the support of government funding and a biotech company Cellomics, the research team is now developing a new platform that combines microfluidic chip technology with immune-microparticle isolation strategies to efficiently and sensitively screen CTCs based on their physical and biological traits, CityU said.