Hong Kong scientists aim to cure ovarian cancer by capturing cells spreading to other organs
- Secrets of metastasis are key for researchers looking to create new early detection tools and therapies, says HKU cell biologist Alice Wong Sze-tsai
- China records around 55,000 new cases of ovarian cancer a year and the disease recurs in around 70 per cent of patients within two to three years after initial treatment
By uncovering the complex mechanisms behind this process, called metastasis, the researchers aimed to pave the way for new early detection tools and therapies, the lead cell biologist said.
Lead researcher Alice Wong Sze-tsai, chair professor of the school of biological sciences at the University of Hong Kong, has been studying cancers for more than two decades with a focus on the most lethal of gynaecological cancers.
09:24
Cancer cure? Hong Kong develops ‘world’s first’ treatment to reverse stage-four liver cancer
“Ovarian cancer is sometimes called the ‘silent killer’ because its symptoms are easy to miss. Research on the disease has not seen breakthroughs in the last 50 years compared to other cancers,” Wong said.
The main treatments of ovarian cancer remained conventional – surgery and chemotherapy – because a lack of good experimental models hindered research progress, she said. But Wong’s research is turning the tables.
“I realised that force is missing. When cancer cells try to settle on healthy host tissue, they are in motion and cause shear stress. Many cancer cells die during this dynamic process, leaving only 0.01 per cent of them successfully adhering to other tissues.”
Fewer Hong Kong women getting screened for cervical cancer since Covid
According to Wong, very different molecules are involved in cell-to-cell communication compared to when they bind in a static condition. These communicator molecules could serve as biomarkers to detect the spread of cancer and guide treatment.
Through collaboration with engineers, her team developed a microfluidic chip that replicates tumour behaviour to capture metastatic cells spreading from the ovaries across the abdominal cavity.
She said the potential tool could outperform regular gene tests at detecting the tiny fraction of cells that would attach to other sites.
The team is developing a start-up based on the technology and working towards the device being ready for research purposes in one to two years, and ready for clinical use soon.
“We hope the platform can enable the development of anti-metastatic drug discovery and assess whether existing targeted therapy could also be used to treat ovarian cancer,” she said, adding that it could also boost the development of precision medicine for more effective treatments.
China records around 55,000 new cases of ovarian cancer every year, with a 40 per cent survival rate within five years, according to a report published by the China Anti-Cancer Association last year. It added that in around 70 per cent of patients, the cancer would recur within two to three years after initial treatment.
Wong said Hong Kong was well placed to be a bridge for scientific collaborations between mainland China and the world after growing interaction with the mainland science community in recent years.
While her team focuses on basic biological research, Wong said she collaborated with scientists in mainland China and other parts of the world from fields including medicine, chemistry and engineering on drug and device developments.
She said health was an integral part of life and she believed the fruits of scientific research could benefit a wide community.
2 rare gene mutations increase breast, ovarian cancer risk: Hong Kong research
“Molecular biology is fascinating because tiny pellets invisible to the naked eye, like DNA, RNA and proteins, could tell us a lot of information,” Wong said.
“While life and health technology and drug development take longer research time compared to other disciplines, they are key for healthy living. Scientific research will support the country’s development.”
