VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS AS MARKERS FOR CELLULAR COMMUNICATION

Abstract

A method that evaluates metastatic behavior, apoptotic behavior, and/or cancer therapy response efficiency. The method has steps. The method has steps and some of those steps are: Providing a first cell culture having cancer cells and a second cell culture. There is no physical contact between the first cell culture and the second cell culture. Co-culturing the first cell culture and the second cell culture having no physical contact therebetween under a mutual headspace. Determining concentrations of VOCs in the mutual headspace. Comparing the concentrations of the VOCs in the mutual headspace to the concentrations of VOCs in a control sample. Identifying a set of VOCs indicative of cell-to-cell signaling in cancer cells in the mutual headspace wherein the VOCs have concentrations that are significantly different as compared to the control sample. And evaluating metastatic behavior, apoptotic behavior, and/or cancer therapy response efficiency using the set of VOCs identified above.

CPC Classifications