Cancer diagnostics in real time

In the course of their lives, more than two out of five women (43%) and about one in two men (51%) in Germany develop cancer, and the trend is rising. The central challenge for physicians is the individuality of the disease. Therapies must therefore be tailored to the patient individually.

Cancer diagnostics in real time. (Photo credit: Fotolia@Hoda Bogdan)

The first step in cancer treatment is usually the surgical removal of the primary tumor. This is often followed by drug therapy, for example in the form of chemotherapy and/or hormone treatment. However, a timely review of the therapy is often not possible.

A method of the Bayreuth-based simfo GmbH, can already provide information about the success during the therapy. The highly sensitive method makes cancer cells glow by means of fluorescent antibodies, allowing these rare cells to be detected at a very early stage. The method makes it possible to test other drugs that could be used for treatment, thus allowing treatment to be tailored to the patient. Furthermore, the procedure allows molecular characterization of the tumor cells in order to adapt subsequent therapy.

Cancer therapy: long-term monitoring is important

After therapy, it is important to monitor whether the cancer recurs. The focus is on individual optimization of the therapy and long-term monitoring in order to be able to intervene in time in the event of a recurrence.

The "maintrac" method developed by simfo can identify and characterize tumor cells released by the tumor into the bloodstream that are responsible for the formation of metastases. "With the help of a blood sample of 15 milliliters and a microscopic evaluation, we can answer, for example, to what extent it makes sense to continue hormone therapy for breast cancer," says Dr. Stefan Schuster, who drove the development of the method together with Prof. Dr. Katharina Pachmann.

maintrac detects increased tumor activity through an increase in circulating tumor cells. In the course of therapy, cell counts are determined repeatedly - optimally every three to six months.

Determination is also advisable after completion of treatment, as "maintrac" detects renewed cancer growth more quickly than other methods. So far, the clinical relevance of the diagnostic has been confirmed in 13 studies with more than 650 patients. The test is performed centrally in Bayreuth. Meanwhile, blood samples from all over the world - Europe, Asia, Australia and North America - are sent to Upper Franconia.

Bayern Innovativ and Forum MedTech Pharma as important supporters

Bayern Innovativ as a partner in the Enterprise Europe Network helped identify funding, provided assistance with the application and accompanied the implementation. Already in 2014, collaborations with the University of Bayreuth started a ZIM project in the field of tumor stem cells. In 2015, simfo GmbH successfully submitted an SME-Pahse1 project to the EU Horizon 2020 framework program and in 2016, together with competence4innovation, took advantage of opportunities within the framework of the "Model Region Upper Franconia":

"Thanks to the excellent support from Bayern Innovativ and the Forum MedTech Pharma , simfo GmbH was able to realize various projects and establish valuable contacts. Bayern Innovativ has competent partners who will also stand by us in future projects," says Schuster, looking optimistically to the future.