CANCELLED Seminar: 'Identification of predictive and prognostic exosome biomarkers in melanoma'

Due to unforeseen circumstances this seminar on Tuesday 30^th October has had to be cancelled.

Apologies for any inconvenience.

Speaker: Russell Diefenbach, Senior Research Fellow, Macquarie University, Australia

Title: 'Identification of predictive and prognostic exosome biomarkers in melanoma'

Synopsis: 

Analysis of liquid biopsies and the identification of non-invasive biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of solid tumors has grown exponentially over the last few years. In particular, the role of exosomes in cancer has become a promising avenue for biomarker research. Exosomes can affect tumour progression by negatively regulating immune responses, and in the case of exosomes derived from cancer cells, facilitate tumour formation (promoting cell proliferation, invasion and metastasis, angiogenesis as well as modulating extracellular matrix and tumour microenvironment). Our work has sought to identify novel exosomal miRNA and protein biomarkers of response to immunotherapy using serum from healthy individuals, melanoma patients before therapy (PRE), or early during therapy (EDT- approximately 7 days after commencement of drug therapy). Exosomes were purified from serum using qEV size exclusion columns (Izon) then validated for size and integrity using a combination of qNano (Izon) and transmission electron microscopy analysis. Purified and validated exosomes were then processed through two pipelines. In one, exosomal miRNA was extracted and identified using an OpenArray human miRNA panel (Thermofisher). In the other, exosomes were directly analysed using mass spectroscopy to both identify and quantify their protein content. Identification of melanoma specific exosome markers will pave the way for more in-depth validation studies on miRNA/proteins in melanoma exosomes as a pathway for unlocking their potential in the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of melanoma.

Sandwiches and refreshments will be provided from 12:30