Platelet Nucleic Acid Extraction for Non-Invasive Cancer Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting cancer and other diseases are hindered by the lack of suitable techniques for identifying protein markers in body fluids and the inefficiency of circulating tumor cells, requiring invasive biopsies and failing to monitor tumor progression effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the extraction of nucleic acids from anucleated blood cells, such as thrombocytes, to analyze for disease-specific mutations or expression profiles, which can be used to identify diseases without the need for biopsies and provide extensive monitoring capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If circulating tumor cells are used for cancer detection, then non-invasive monitoring is enabled, but detection efficiency and reliability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses platelets as intermediary carriers that naturally uptake and transport tumor-derived nucleic acids from circulating tumor cells. This mediator approach enables reliable detection of cancer markers through routine blood draws without requiring direct isolation of rare circulating tumor cells, thus resolving the contradiction between non-invasive monitoring and detection reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent detects copies of tumor-derived nucleic acids that have been transferred to platelets rather than directly detecting rare circulating tumor cells. This copying mechanism amplifies the detectable signal while maintaining the non-invasive nature of blood sampling, improving detection efficiency without sacrificing ease of operation
2Measurement precision
If tumor biopsies are performed for genetic analysis, then accurate tumor characterization is achieved, but patient comfort and monitoring capability deteriorate due to invasiveness
Solution Approach 1:
Platelets serve as natural mediators that collect tumor-derived nucleic acids from the circulation. By analyzing these platelet-associated nucleic acids, the patent achieves accurate tumor genetic characterization equivalent to biopsy results while using only minimally invasive blood sampling, thus maintaining measurement precision while dramatically improving ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical biopsy procedure with a biochemical detection system. Instead of physically removing and analyzing tumor tissue, the system uses biochemical markers (tumor-derived nucleic acids on platelets) to infer tumor genetics, substituting an invasive mechanical process with a non-invasive biochemical assay
3Loss of time
If protein markers are used for disease detection, then early diagnosis is enabled, but suitable detection techniques are lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and analyzes nucleic acid markers from platelets, which are abundant and easily accessible in blood samples. This extraction approach enables early disease detection by identifying tumor-derived or disease-associated nucleic acids using well-established molecular biology techniques, thus achieving early diagnosis while avoiding the need for complex or unavailable detection methodologies
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method of analyzing a blood sample of a subject for the presence of a disease marker, said method comprising the steps of a) extracting nucleic acid from anucleated blood cells in said blood sample to provide an anucleated blood cells-extracted nucleic acid fraction, and b) analyzing said anucleated blood cells-extracted nucleic acid fraction for the presence of a disease marker, wherein said disease marker is a disease-specific mutation in a gene of a cell of said subject, or wherein said disease marker is a disease-specific expression profile of genes of a cell of said subject.