Tumor cell-intrinsic mechanisms and complex interactions with the tumor microenvironment contribute to therapeutic failure via tumor evolution. It may be possible to overcome treatment resistance by developing a personalized approach based on a comprehensive analysis of tumors. We used single-cell analysis technologies to depict the tumor landscape of a single case of chemo-resistant metastatic, muscle-invasive urothelial bladder cancer (MIUBC) and found out that it was addicted to an HRAS mutation and that HRAS targeting treatment provoked upregulation of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) in surviving tumor cells. Based on the analysis, tipifarnib, a HRAS-targeting agent and then, atezolizumab, a PD-L1 inhibitor, was clinically applied; this resulted in a favorable response from the patient (Lee et al., 2020). In this study, we used the single-cell western blot technology (Milo) from Bio-techne to confirm the results from single-cell RNA sequencing. Since the targets of anti-cancer treatments are proteins, the expression and phosphorylation status of the proteins should be more predictive than the amount of mRNA. Comprehensive use of single-cell analysis technologies would expect accurate identification of personalized treatment targets for cancer patients.

Speakers:
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Kyeung Min Joo, PhD
Professor, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology
Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine

Kyeungmin is a translational biologist experienced in biomedical research. He received his MD and PhD from the Seoul National University, South Korea. Kyeungmin then moved on to Samsung Medical Center to carry out postdoctoral training at the department of neurosurgery, working on establishment of patient-derived xenograft models and genetic analysis of cancers to develop personalized anti-cancer treatments. Since 2012, Kyeungmin is working at the department of anatomy and cell biology, SungKyunKwan University School of Medicine in South Korea, continuing his research.


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Surashree Kulkarni, Ph.D.
Applications Scientist, Bio-Techne

Surashree is an Applications Scientist at Bio-techne with the Field Applications group. She provides scientific consultation, application, and technical support to Scientists by training them on instrument use, assay optimization, method development and data analysis.

Moderator:


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Gayathri Kollessery, M.S.
Product Manager, Bio-techne

Gayathri is the Product Manager for Western Blot Business at Bio-techne, supporting the Simple Western, Single-cell Western and Imaging product lines. She has a Masters in Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Her background includes support of high throughput systems used in both Clinical and Research segments.