Large oncosomes in the blood may enable cancer diagnosis and monitoring

Cedars-Sinai investigators have discovered that large oncosomes—fluid-filled sacs released into the bloodstream by aggressive cancer cells—contain a consistent set of molecules across cancer types. Their findings, published in Cell Reports Medicine, highlight large oncosomes in the blood as a possible method of diagnosing and monitoring malignancies.

Investigators also showed, for the first time, that multiomics, including single-cell RNA sequencing technology, can be applied to large oncosomes.

“We found a common set of molecules in these large oncosomes that are released by brain, prostate and breast cancer cells and were also found in the blood of patients with metastatic prostate cancer,” said Dolores Di Vizio, MD, Ph.D., professor of Urology at Cedars-Sinai Cancer and lead corresponding author of the study.

“Our next step will be to collaborate with mechanical engineers, biologists, genomicists, and transcriptomics experts to develop a blood test to monitor prostate cancer response to therapy. Eventually, we hope to develop blood tests that help pair cancer patients with the most effective therapies, monitor disease more accurately and reduce the need for invasive biopsies.”