Developing a Method for Circulating Tumor Cell Detection in Pediatric Medulloblastoma: Correlations with Metastatic Status and Prognostic Factors Restricted; Files Only

Abstract

Medulloblastoma (MB) is a rare cancer but a leading cause of pediatric brain tumors and is characterized by highly metastatic tendencies and poor prognosis. Literature has evidenced that metastasis includes the movement of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and circulating tumor cell clusters (CTCCs) throughout a patient’s circulatory and lymphatic systems, offering an important potential diagnostic and prognostic for metastasis. Over 90% of cancer-related deaths are attributed to metastasis, yet highly sensitive and specific assays for CTC and CTCC detection have yet to be developed. The purpose of this project was to develop a novel CTC/CTCC detection method for pediatric MB patients and to assess correlations in CTC/CTCC counts and diagnostic and prognostic factors through the combination of antigen-antibody interactions and magnetic nanotechnology. We discovered a statistically positive correlation between CTC concentrations and metastatic status and a predictive threshold for metastasis status composed of the change in CTC concentrations over the course of treatment and disease subtype. Furthermore, we developed a two-predictor predictive probability model of metastasis status. This study demonstrates the promise of CTCs- and nanotechnology-based liquid biopsies as reliable, convenient, non-invasive, and affordable diagnostic and prognostic tools for MB.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1                                                                                                                            

Materials and Methods 12                                                                                                      

Results  15                                                                                                                               

Discussion   20                                                                                                                          

Conclusion                23                                                                                                              

Figures and Legends       24                                                                                                      

References                      47                                                                                                       

About this Honors Thesis

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School	Emory College
Department	Biology
Degree	B.S.
Submission	Honors Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Biology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Biostatistics
Keyword	Medulloblastoma Circulating tumor cells Nanotechnology Pediatric cancer Metastasis detection
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Mao, Hui, Emory University
Committee Members	Eisen, Arri, Emory University Nalkur, Sonal, Emory University

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