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The latest innovations in cancer research from AACR 2023: Liquid biopsies, spatial technologies, companion diagnostics and more

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Explore the latest advances in cancer research from a focal event in the cancer community calendar

31 May 2023
Georgina Wynne Hughes
Editorial Assistant

Expert insights

For many years, SelectScience® has been attending scientific conferences around the world, to bring you news covering the latest technological advancements and research breakthroughs, and highlighting new products that could aid your research. Understanding the importance of these global events in the acceleration of science, we bring highlights from live shows and conferences, such as AACR, directly to you, showcasing novel technology and advances across various scientific disciplines.

Recent shows attended by SelectScience include the American Association of Clinical Chemistry (AACC) Clinical Lab Expo and Meeting 2022, the Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS) International Conference and Exhibition 2023, and the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2023. As part of our Accelerating Science Special Feature, we are looking back at highlights from these key events. Read on to experience AACR 2023 with us or explore AACC 2022 and SLAS 2023.

The AACR Annual Meeting 2023 was held April 14–19 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. SelectScience attended to bring you the latest news from the conference, and covered news published by manufacturers, scientific breakthroughs, and more. Founded in 1907, the AACR is the world’s first and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research and its mission, is to prevent and cure cancer. This year’s meeting brought together scientists, physicians, healthcare professionals, survivors, patients, and advocates to discuss the most recent developments in cancer science and therapy, and celebrated the latest work from institutions all around the world.

In this video, SelectScience Associate Editor, Cameron Smith-Craig, reports live from the AACR Annual Meeting 2023 in Orlando, Florida.

Browse the videos below to discover the latest innovations in cancer research from the show floor as experts share their thoughts and expertise on camera. Topics discussed in these insightful video interviews include precision medicine, companion diagnostics, liquid biopsies, immunotherapy and spatial technologies.

Precision medicine: Targeted therapies for the future of cancer treatment

Prof. Philip Low, Presidential Scholar for Drug Discovery and Ralph C. Corley Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, Purdue University, discusses his lab's focus on developing targeted therapies for various diseases. With the goal to drive precision medicine, Low's lab uses various techniques to selectively deliver drugs to cancer cells, such as exploiting cancer cells' appetite for certain components and designing small molecules that bind to overexpressed cancer receptors.



Accelerating drug development with ACROBiosystems

Larry Yu and Jessie Chen of ACROBiosystems share the company's dedication to partnering with its customers in the biopharmaceutical and healthcare industries, providing an overview of its core products and GMP services that comply with global standards and federal guidelines to ensure safe and reliable materials for clinical manufacturing. Plus, hear about the launch of the new ClinMax™ product line, promising kits for low-risk, high-quality biological and clinical in vitro and companion diagnostics.



Advances in liquid biopsy research for predictive biomarkers in solid tumors

Dr. Marzia Del Re from the University of Pisa discusses her research on liquid biopsy for predictive biomarkers of resistance or response to targeted therapies in patients with solid tumors. She uses digital PCR and next-generation sequencing (NGS) for her research and suggests using digital PCR for molecular identification and diagnosis of point mutations or small insertions and deletions, and using NGS for large gene rearrangements or fusions. Del Re expects an increase in the use of digital PCR for patient monitoring during treatment and believes that assessing minimal residual disease and monitoring tumor dynamics during treatment will be the next step for liquid biopsy in the clinical setting.

Targeting the nervous system to improve cancer patient outcomes

In this video, Dr. Moran Amit, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses his lab’s focus on cancer neuroscience and improving patient outcomes. The lab aims to extend patients’ lives and improve their quality of life by studying the interaction between the nervous system and tumors. Amit's presentation at the AACR 2023 conference focused on the quality of life in patients with oropharyngeal cancer and how nerves mediate resistance to immunotherapy.



Revolutionizing cancer research: The latest developments in genomic and spatial technologies

Prof. Nicholas Navin, MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses his research program focused on developing new genomic and spatial technologies to understand cancer progression and evolution. He highlights two studies, one involving the development of a new technology for archival single-cell DNA sequencing of breast cancer tissues to understand genomic progression. The other studying chemoresistance in triple-negative breast cancer. He also discusses the importance of multi-omic measurements and spatial technologies in understanding how different tumor cells interact and change their microenvironments during disease progression and therapeutic resistance.

Experience more of AACR 2023 in our Special Feature>>

Find more news and resources in our Accelerating Science Special Feature>>

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Cell / Tissue CultureCell culture or tissue culture is used to study the biology of cells or tissues and to isolate cellular products in an environment which can be manipulated and well defined. Accurately control your culture environment with bioreactors or culture incubators, bind your cells to a surface or together with an extracellular matrix. Distinguish cell types with differential media or proliferate cells with certain characteristics using selective media. Enrich your media with supplements such as growth factors, sera and vitamins. Find the best cell and tissue culture products, kits and equipment in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Cell Lines Stem Cells and Primary CellsPrimary cell cultures, established cell lines and stem cells are vital for <i>in vitro</i> and <i>ex vivo</i> experimentation. 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In choosing immunohistochemistry and immunocytochemistry kits, consider chromogens, staining method, antibodies, microscopes and imaging.Clinical ChemistryBiochemistry (or clinical chemistry) involves the analysis of bodily fluids using chemical tests. Techniques used include HPLC, chromatography, spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, immunochemical, electrophoresis, turbidometric / spectrophotometric assay, MRI and ISE analysis. Tests are often carried out on plasma or serum but urine (urinalysis) and fecal specimens are also processed.Clinical GeneticsMolecular Genetics covers the analysis of hereditary genetic disease and chromosomal abnormalities. Genetics can be analysed using DNA, RNA, and protein microarrays, PCR, RT PCR and DNA sequencing. Genetic equipment includes genetic workstations, thermal cyclers, cooling blocks and electrophoresis products. Diagnostic kits are used for DNA / RNA extraction and purification.Clinical MicrobiologyMicrobiology is the study of microorganisms including protists, prokaryotes, fungi, and, often, viruses. Microorganisms are a useful research tool as genetic vectors and, in immunology, for antibiotic susceptibility testing, cellular biology and genetics. Microorganisms commonly grow readily in incubators with microbial culture media; this can contain chromogenic supplements to differentiate between cell lines. Estimate your culture’s density of microorganisms with colony counters, or screen and select colonies for desirable clones with automated colony pickers. Additionally, equipment is available to monitor environments for the presence of microbes and identify with microbial identification instruments. Find the best microbiology products in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Next Generation SequencingNext-generation sequencing (NGS), also known as whole-genome sequencing, high-throughput sequencing and massive parallel sequencing, produces and analyses thousands to millions of nucleotide sequences at once. Sequencing systems operate via varying technologies depending on the manufacturer, including sequencing by synthesis, ligation, pyrosequencing, ion semiconductor and single-molecule real-time sequencing. For NGS, library preparation is paramount to successful sequencing. In this section, explore a range of library preparation kits, from targeted, amplicon-based or hybridization-based kits including epigenomic, transcriptomic and genomic workflows to fragmentation kits. Find the best next-generation sequencing products in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Cancer DiagnosticsThere are a wide variety of diagnostic tests for cancer available, and this range continues to expand as our knowledge of cancer improves. Current diagnostic methods include biopsy, imaging and blood tests for known biomarkers. New methods in research development include liquid biopsies and cancer breathalyzers.TumorsTumor research focuses on understanding abnormal cell growth that leads to cancer. Identifying biomarkers, studying tumor microenvironments, and developing targeted therapies are critical for advancing cancer treatment. Early detection and personalized treatment options are key to improving outcomes for patients. Browse our peer-reviewed product directory to explore tools for tumor research, diagnostics, and cancer therapies; compare products, read customer reviews, and get pricing directly from manufacturers.AACRThe American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is a leading organization focused on cancer research and treatment. It provides a platform for scientists, healthcare professionals, and industry leaders to share knowledge and collaborate in the fight against cancer.Cancer ResearchAlthough cancer is often referred to as a single condition, it actually consists of more than 100 different diseases. Microscopy, mass spectrometry, high throughput sequencing and flow cytometry are some of the most common techniques employed in cancer research labs.

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