Cancer cell plasticity, a phenomenon wherein cells alter their behavior, poses a significant challenge in cancer therapy, especially since it is not well understood. This adaptability is particularly evident in Glioblastoma (GBM) cancer cells, known for their rapid adaptation, leading to resistance against radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Understanding these adaptive mechanisms and finding ways to counter them could be pivotal in preventing cancer recurrence, a common issue with GBM. Traditional single-cell study methods usually destroy the cells during analysis, limiting observations to either pre or post-treatment stages. Now, a breakthrough nanosurgical tool, which is around 500 times thinner than a human hair, could offer unprecedented insights into cancer treatment resistance.

The high-tech double-barrel nanopipette, developed by scientists at the University of Leeds (West Yorkshire, UK), enables - for the first time - the observation of individual living cancer cells' responses to treatment over time. This tool is equipped with two nanoscopic needles that enable simultaneous injection and extraction from the same cell, thus broadening the scope of its application. The semi-automatic nature of the platform significantly enhances the speed of data collection, allowing for more efficient and accurate analysis of a larger number of individual cells than ever before.

The nanosurgical device can perform repeated biopsies on a living cell throughout cancer treatment. It samples small portions of the cell's contents without causing cell death, thereby letting scientists monitor the cell's reaction over a period. In their research focusing on GBM, the scientists used this tool to evaluate how cancer cells develop resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Due to its minuscule size, the nanopipette is operated through robotic software that precisely controls the tiny needles, maneuvering them into the cells in a petri dish. The second needle of the nanopipette is crucial in operating the device. This innovation allows scientists to take repeated samples, enabling them to track disease progression in individual cells, a feat previously unachievable with existing technologies.

“This is a significant breakthrough. It is the first time that we have a technology where we can actually monitor the changes taking place after treatment, rather than just assume them,” said Dr. Lucy Stead, Associate Professor of Brain Cancer Biology at the University of Leeds’ School of Medicine. “This type of technology is going to provide a layer of understanding that we have simply never had before. And that new understanding and insight will lead to new weapons in our armory against all types of cancer.” 

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