McMaster researchers have uncovered a fast and effective way to detect cancer stem cells before the disease recurs in adults who previously underwent treatment.
Mick Bhatia, a professor in the department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, led the new study, published in Cell Reports Medicine.
Many cases of cancer recur in the body within a few years of previous treatment. While current methods can monitor for tumours that have returned, technology had not yet advanced enough to catch “undetectable” cancer cells that lead to a tumour coming back. Bhatia’s research with adults who previously underwent treatment for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a major step forward
We spoke with Bhatia about the promise of this new detection method and what this means for the future of cancer treatment.