Clinical value of bioelectrical properties of cancerous tissue in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer patients

Abstract

Currently, there are no valid pre-operatively established biomarkers or algorithms that can accurately predict surgical and clinical outcome for patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). In this study, we suggest that profiling of tumour parameters such as bioelectrical-potential and metabolites, detectable by electronic sensors, could facilitate the future development of devices to better monitor disease and predict surgical and treatment outcomes. Biopotential was recorded, using a potentiometric measurement system, in ex vivo paired non-cancerous and cancerous omental tissues from advanced stage EOC (n = 36), and lysates collected for metabolite measurement by microdialysis. Consistently different biopotential values were detected in cancerous tissue versus non-cancerous tissue across all cases (p < 0.001). High tumour biopotential levels correlated with advanced tumour stage (p = 0.048) and tumour load, and negatively correlated with stroma. Within our EOC cohort and specifically the high-grade serous subtype, low biopotential levels associated with poorer progression-free survival (p = 0.0179, p = 0.0143 respectively). Changes in biopotential levels significantly correlated with common apoptosis related pathways. Lactate and glucose levels measured in paired tissues showed significantly higher lactate/glucose ratio in tissues with low biopotential (p < 0.01, n = 12). Our study proposes the feasibility of biopotential and metabolite monitoring as a biomarker modality profiling EOC to predict surgical and clinical outcomes.

Electrostatic potential difference between tumor and paratumor regulates cancer stem cell behavior and prognose tumor spread

“…Our results show that tumor spread has a strong correlation with the EPD between tumor and paratumor, and patients with positive V Tumor–Paratumor have higher rates to develop tumor spread. This is consistent with a recent study that showed that high tumor potential value was correlated with the advanced stage of epithelial ovarian cancer 28 . Additionally, CD44+ CSCs showed directional migration toward the negatively charged substrate.…”

“…This is consistent with a recent study that showed that high tumor potential value was correlated with the advanced stage of epithelial ovarian cancer. 28 Additionally, CD44+ CSCs showed directional migration toward the negatively charged substrate. We also observed that a higher abundance of CD44+ CSCs was observed in patient paratumor tissue when V Tumor-Paratumor was positive.…”

Toward Hijacking Bioelectricity in Cancer to Develop New Bioelectronic Medicine

“…[92] Similarly, a high tumor bioelectric potential was correlated with advanced tumor stage in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer. [93] Therefore, the change in potential caused by gene expression level or activity of ion channels is evolving as a new hallmark for the diagnosis of cancer. New bioelectronic devices that could monitor these bioelectric changes could revolutionize the point-of-care diagnostic tool for rapid and early detection of cancer.…”

“…For instance, microelectrodes and neutralized input capacity amplifiers have been used for intracellular potential measurements, [98] high-impedance micropipettes have been used to show a measured difference in V m of normal and cancerous fibroblasts and hepatocytes, [86] and a potentiometry based method has been developed using a combination of a Ag/AgCl and tungsten electrode to measure the bioelectric potential of non-cancerous and cancerous omental tissue in patients with advanced ovarian cancer. [93] Electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is also capable of detecting altered electric properties of normal versus cancerous tissues of different types. [99][100][101] Some electronic sensors are also able to assess the aggressiveness of tumor cells.…”

A neural tract-inspired conduit for facile, on-demand biopsy of glioblastoma

“… 24–27 In fact, the ability to continuously and frequently monitor other solid and heterogeneously evolving tumors (eg, epithelial ovarian cancer) has provided clinical benefits in the form of more informed (and effective) treatment plans, and improved median overall survival. 28 , 29 The emerging liquid biopsy approach, while showing promise for tumor sequencing and early-stage detection, 30 , 31 is currently limited to use as a correlative tool alongside traditional biopsy, mostly due to the scarcity of brain tumor material available in blood and CSF. 9 , 13 This means that the sensitivity required to find and evaluate the minimal amount of useful material will be prohibitively high.…”