The achievements of two Turkish scientists are noteworthy in the studies carried out at the Canary Cancer Early Diagnosis Center on early detection of cancer and prediction strategies. Turkish scientists are working to become the “canary” of cancer in the center, which takes its name from the canaries that were taken to the mines for the detection of harmful gases in the past.
Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank also visited the center at the beginning of the week, Turkish scientists Prof. Dr. Utkan Demirci and Assoc. Dr. Gözde Durmuş’s studies and the technology he developed provide hope for early diagnosis of cancer.
Demirci works on early detection of cancer by separating cancer nanovesicles and exhaustomas from blood. Although these vesicles are too small to be seen with the naked eye or microscope, they contain valuable information on cancer.
Durmuşun’s studies, on the other hand, can detect cancer cells from blood with “magnetic flying” technology.
“WE AIM TO BRING ANOTHER STEP APPROACH TO A SOLUTION WITH EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF CANCER”
Leading the studies at the Stanford University Canary Cancer Early Detection Center, Prof. Dr. Utkan Demirci said that they aim to catch cancer at a very early stage that imaging devices cannot see.
Demirci said, “We aim to bring cancer, one of the biggest health problems of our age, one step closer to a solution through early diagnosis.”
Demirci also gave information about magnetic levitation technology, Assoc. Dr. He explained that this technology developed by Gözde Durmuş separates cancer cells by raising them in a magnetic field.
Demirci noted that one of the technologies being worked on at the center is a technology for examining nano-sized particles circulating in the blood that cannot be seen with the eye or even with light microscopes, and to see which of them come from cancer cells.
Pointing out that they have many technologies that they have developed and turned into products, Demirci stated that some of them are in the field of in vitro fertilization. Demirci said, “The technologies we have developed can contribute to different fields.” said.
Stating that the technology developed in the field of IVF is the sperm selection technology known as “microfluid IVF” or “chip baby” in Turkey, Demirci stated that this is also actively used in Turkey.
“OUR FIRST GOAL IS TO HELP RESEARCHERS”
Assoc. Dr. Gözde Durmuş said that they are doing research on early diagnosis of diseases in the Molecular Imaging Unit of the Radiology Department.
Stating that the main target of the Canary Cancer Early Diagnosis Center is the early diagnosis of cancer, Durmuş explained that they apply the technologies they have developed in the Molecular Imaging Unit to both cancer and infectious diseases that threaten world health.
Durmuş noted that by using two magnets in the technology they call “magnetic levitation” or “magnetic levitation”, they can suspend cells suspended in the air without the need for a very large magnetic field.
In their research, Durmuş stated that cancer cells fly into the air unlike red and white blood cells in the blood.
Durmuş stated that the technology they developed is at the trial stage, and that it has been tested in some cancer research centers in Germany and the USA, and that the reactions have been positive.
Noting that some approvals must be obtained in the USA for the use of the technology in question, Durmuş said: “What we are trying to do is to develop a tool for researchers to identify these cells from the blood and separate them very easily, and to understand their biology. Currently, these cells are very easy on the market. And there isn’t a lot of technology that can sort it out efficiently. Our initial goal was to help cancer research and also get the approvals I mentioned and maybe make it available to doctors at the cancer center.”
