Laser Raman Tweezer Spectroscopy for the Molecular and Functional Characterization of Single Live Mouse Mammary Tumor-Initiating Cells.

摘要

The purpose of this research is to utilize Raman Spectroscopy (RS) combined with optical tweezer technology (RTS) to isolate and characterize the intracellular molecular profiles of live tumor initiating cells derived from p53 null mouse mammary tumors. The rationale is that previous technology has used flow cytometry and antibodies to specific extracellular markers for the purpose of isolation and characterization of tumor initiating cells (TIC) or cancer stem cells (CSC). RTS would allow characterization of cells based on their intracellular molecular profiles. Combining the methods of flow cytometry that allows cell isolation by extracellular markers with RTS that enables the isolation of cells with distinct intracellular molecular profiles would allow one to distinguish heterogeneous cells among CSCs. This technology would enable one to identify cells with distinct intracellular molecular profiles among an otherwise homogeneous population of CSC and to translate the distinct intracellular molecular profiles to in vitro and in vivo biological functions such as tumorigenicity. The long-term goal of this project is the isolation and characterization of distinct tumor initiating cells; which would enable future development of anti-cancer stem cell therapies for eradicating resistant and or quiescent CSCs.