ICMR Funds Blood Test Research for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

A team at GITAM (Deemed to be University) in Visakhapatnam is developing a blood test for early detection of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) through an Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-funded project. The three-year project, sanctioned under ICMR’s Follow-on Nischayak Anveshan Extramural Grants programme, has an outlay of more than ₹2 crore.

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

TNBC is a breast cancer subtype in which tumour cells test negative for oestrogen receptors and progesterone receptors, and do not have excess human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). These receptor characteristics distinguish TNBC from breast cancers that can be treated using therapies targeting those receptors. Professor Rama Rao Malla of GITAM’s Department of Life Sciences is the project’s principal investigator. The research seeks to identify serum-based biomarkers that could support early-stage TNBC diagnosis.

Exosomes and microRNA Biomarkers

Exosomes are nanosized, membrane-bound vesicles released by cells. They carry molecular material, including proteins and nucleic acids, between cells. MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression. The project examines exosomes in blood serum and their microRNA content. Researchers will compare serum samples from women with early-stage TNBC with samples from healthy women. Sequencing and digital polymerase chain reaction (PCR) will be used to identify candidate microRNAs. Digital PCR divides a sample into numerous reactions to detect and quantify target nucleic acids.

Research Institutions and Diagnostic Development

Mahatma Gandhi Cancer Hospital & Research Institute and GITAM Institute of Medical Sciences and Research will provide patient samples. GITAM School of Science co-investigators include P. Kiranmayi, P. Vasudevaraju, A. Krishna Chaitanya and M. Srivenkatesh; K. Viswa Kalyan is from GITAM Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, and V. Muralikrishna is from Mahatma Gandhi Cancer Hospital & Research Institute. The researchers plan to train a machine-learning model to distinguish early-stage TNBC patients from healthy individuals. The project’s stated end goal is a kit-based test.

Important Facts for Exams

:

• ICMR is India’s apex body for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research.
• TNBC is defined by the absence of oestrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and HER2 overexpression.
• Exosomes are extracellular vesicles that carry molecular material between cells.
• Digital PCR is a method for detecting and quantifying nucleic acid targets.

ICMR’s extramural grants support biomedical research conducted by investigators and institutions outside its own institutes. The project is based at GITAM in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.</final