Columbia Technology Ventures

Extracellular vesicle-based assay for detecting head and neck cancer

This technology is a method for determining the presence or absence of head and neck cancer through the detection of cancer-associated proteins on extracellular vesicles isolated from patients.

Unmet Need: Early diagnostic tool for head and neck cancer

Current diagnostic tools for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are limited in their usefulness for detecting the disease due to low sensitivity, low specificity, and long turnaround times. These limitations contribute to 60% of patients with HNSCC being diagnosed with late-stage cancer. As such, there is a significant need for a simple, specific assay for the early detection of head and neck cancer.

The Technology: Non-invasive method for the detection of head and neck cancer

This technology identifies the occurrence of HNSCC by analyzing the proteomic landscape of extracellular exosomes (EVs) isolated from bodily fluid samples. Specifically, this assay detects the appearance of proteins uniquely enriched in tumor-derived extracellular vesicles. The positive identification of one or several of these cancer-specific proteins on isolated EVs indicates the presence of head and neck cancer.

Applications:

  • Diagnostic tool for HNSCC and other squamous cancers
  • Research tool for isolating EVs and quantifying EV content
  • Method for identifying tumor-specific EV proteins
  • Screening method for predicting and monitoring cancer treatment response
  • Tumor-specific delivery of EV-encapsulated therapeutics

Advantages:

  • Non-invasive method to screen for and diagnose HNSCC
  • Can be used for longitudinal sampling and analysis
  • Facilitates analysis of tumor-derived DNA, RNA, and protein
  • Uses high-throughput chip-based approach
  • Can be used for early detection and assessment of cancer stage

Lead Inventor:

Fatemeh Momen-Heravi, DDS, MPH, PhD, MS

Patent Information:

Patent Pending (WO/2022/226391)

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