In a groundbreaking development, scientists have introduced MiROM, a label-free imaging technology that tracks cancer treatment effectiveness by detecting protein misfolding in cells. This innovation leverages mid-infrared light to identify molecular vibrations, offering a new lens into the cellular changes that occur during cancer therapy. The technology’s ability to capture real-time structural changes in proteins provides vital insights into how cancer cells respond to treatments.
The announcement comes as researchers strive to improve the precision and speed of cancer treatment assessments. MiROM’s unique approach involves optoacoustics, which captures ultrasound waves generated when proteins absorb infrared light, causing a localized temperature increase and subsequent emission of ultrasound signals. By analyzing these signals, MiROM can detect shifts in the molecular “dance” of proteins, such as misfolding, which is crucial for understanding treatment responses.
Overcoming Limitations in Myeloma Therapy Assessment
Multiple myeloma, a blood cancer affecting plasma cells in the bone marrow, poses significant challenges in treatment monitoring. Traditional methods require large cell samples and complex preparation, often delaying timely assessments of patient responses. MiROM addresses these limitations by analyzing individual cells, requiring minimal samples and delivering fast, nearly real-time evaluations of treatment effectiveness.
“Since MiROM can analyze individual cells in real time without the need for elaborate sample preparation, it offers fast insights into how treatments may impact protein structures at a cellular level,” says Francesca Gasparin, first author of the study. “Specifically, MiROM detects the formation of intermolecular beta-sheets (structures linked to protein misfolding) as well as apoptosis, the programmed cell death that indicates whether cancer treatments are working or if drug resistance is developing,” add Prof. Miguel Pleitez and Prof. Florian Basserman, senior investigators in the study.
By analyzing individual cells, MiROM can uncover variations in treatment response within a patient’s cancer, paving the way for truly personalized therapy adjustments.
One Tool, Many Applications
Beyond multiple myeloma, MiROM holds significant potential for other diseases linked to protein misfolding, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Ongoing advancements, such as optimizing laser pulse duration and increasing imaging speed, could further enhance its sensitivity and broaden its clinical applications.
“We envision the use of MiROM in drug screening, diagnostic tests, and home-based patient monitoring,” says Prof. Vasilis Ntziachristos, also a senior investigator in the study. Future clinical validation in larger patient cohorts will be the next step toward bringing this technology into routine medical practice.
About the Researchers
Prof. Vasilis Ntziachristos is the Head of the Bioengineering Center and the Institute of Biological and Medical Imaging at Helmholtz Munich. He also holds the Chair of Biological Imaging at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and is a founding member and in the Board of Directors of TranslaTUM, TUM’s Central Institute for Translational Cancer Research. At TranslaTUM, researchers from medicine, engineering, and natural sciences collaborate to rapidly translate cancer research discoveries into clinical applications.
Francesca Gasparin is a researcher at the Institute of Biological and Medical Imaging at Helmholtz Munich and the Chair of Biological Imaging at the Technical University of Munich (TUM).
Prof. Miguel A. Pleitez is the Group Leader for Translational Optoacoustics at the Institute of Biological and Medical Imaging at Helmholtz Munich, Chair of Biological Imaging at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), and a group leader at TranslaTUM.
Prof. Florian Bassermann is the Director of the Department of Medicine III (Hematology/Oncology) at TUM University Hospital, Technical University of Munich (TUM), and a group leader at TranslaTUM.
About Helmholtz Munich
Helmholtz Munich is a leading biomedical research center dedicated to developing breakthrough solutions for better health in a rapidly changing world. Interdisciplinary research teams focus on environmentally triggered diseases, especially the therapy and prevention of diabetes, obesity, allergies, and chronic lung diseases. With the power of artificial intelligence and bioengineering, researchers accelerate the translation to patients. Helmholtz Munich has around 2,500 employees and is headquartered in Munich/Neuherberg. It is a member of the Helmholtz Association, with more than 43,000 employees and 18 research centers, making it the largest scientific organization in Germany. More about Helmholtz Munich (Helmholtz Zentrum München Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt GmbH): www.helmholtz-munich.de/en
