How advances in technology are speeding up the discovery of new cancer drugs
In the Centre for Cancer Drug Discovery at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, manual methods in research, such as pipetting, are taking a step back as sound waves help to deliver breakthroughs in cancer research. Robbie Lockyer spoke with the scientists using this pioneering technology.
State-of-the-art technologies, enabling our scientists to streamline their work to increase productivity and minimise waste, are essential in discovering new cancer treatments as quickly as possible. From microscopes to cytometry equipment and X-ray crystallography facilities, the technology housed in the Centre for Cancer Drug Discovery at The Institute of Cancer Research is exceptional. But surely you don’t need high-tech equipment for simpler tasks like moving liquids from A to B?
Drug discovery involves examining and identifying thousands, if not millions, of potential compounds that could effectively target cancer cells and tackle the disease. Liquid handling is integral to this according to the scientists in Dr Rob van Montfort’s Hit Discovery and Structural Design (HDSD) group – it takes place at nearly every stage of drug discovery.
In the past, this has been labour-intensive and time-consuming due to manual tasks such as pipetting – where you use a small plastic tool to move measured volume of liquids between vessels. When you’re looking for new medicines and you want to know if a potential drug is going to work, precision is essential. So that’s why our drug discoverers have turned to sound.
Exceptional fundraising efforts by our supporters have allowed the ICR to invest in technologies that advance our drug discovery efforts – including a machine called the Echo 650. But what exactly does the Echo 650 do? And why is it a vital tool in our work to defeat cancer?
Merging acoustic technology with automation, this machine creates a flexible and streamlined system for transporting minute quantities of liquids with exceptional accuracy.
How can sound waves help us discover new cancer drugs?
The Echo 650 prepares hundreds and thousands of samples for complex experiments, screening drug compounds and analysing biological samples. To achieve this, the machine must move droplets of liquid so small that they are not visible to the human eye, without touching them at all.
It works by using acoustic droplet technology – or sound waves – to precisely eject tiny amounts of liquid (as little as 2.5 nanolitres) from starting plates (source plates) into receiving plates (destination plates) held directly above. The plates are specially designed trays with hundreds or thousands of tiny wells like miniature test tubes in a grid – with each well holding a different drug. After the Echo 650 is sent information about its given task, the sound waves will propel controlled droplets upwards into the exact spot they’re needed.
Dr Mark Stubbs, Higher Scientific Officer in the HDSD group, who oversees and provides training on the Echo 650 for researchers across the ICR, said: “The Echo 650 ensures precision every time, which is vital when conducting cancer research. Think of it like landing a hole-in-one each time you swing the golf club.”
Once the droplets have been transferred to the destination plate, the plate can either remain in the device for further liquid handling steps, such as adding additional chemicals or preparing the samples for further experimentation. This might include exposing cancer cells to drug compounds or adding key ingredients that either cause chemical reactions, detect specific substances or process biological samples.
What can it do, and why does it matter?
The Echo 650 is not limited to a single field of study – it supports a wide array of advanced techniques across the ICR that are essential for understanding and combating cancer.
The machine has enabled high-throughput screening, which means researchers can transfer thousands of samples a day made up of potential cancer drugs into the destination plates for analysing.
Dr Caroline Ewens, Staff Scientist in the HDSD group within the Centre for Cancer Drug Discovery, said: “The technology’s precision ensures that the smallest amounts of drug targets are accurately mixed and transferred, which saves us time and maintains accuracy. By shortening the timeline for discovery, the Echo 650 helps research teams across the ICR to identify promising drug candidates for further development and testing”.
Precision experiments
The Echo 650 is a critical tool for ensuring that drug discovery is carried out with absolute precision and reproducibility. By transferring liquid droplets in precise doses, it minimises variability and guarantees that each test is set up exactly as intended. This precision is vital for studying cancer biology at a cellular level, where even the smallest of errors can lead to incorrect results or wasted resources.
The device also plays a part in advanced techniques such as the study of genes, their activity and how they work in cells by setting up reactions for processes such as polymerase chain reactions (PCR) and cellular function testing. In addition, with its non-contact transfer system eliminating contamination risk, it is ideal for the delicate biological samples – including tumour cells, DNA and RNA – that our scientists work with on a day-to-day basis.
Dr Stubbs, said: “These capabilities give teams across the Centre for Cancer Drug Discovery, and the wider ICR, robust data and greater confidence in their findings, both of which are essential for developing new treatments and studying how cancer responds to therapies.”
Personalised medicine
The machine gives researchers the ability to work with minute samples derived from patients, allowing them to analyse how an individual’s cancer cells respond to different drugs. For example, if a patient’s tumour shows specific genetic mutations, the device can rapidly assist in setting up tests to determine which therapies are most likely to work.
Beyond drug response studies, the Echo 650 simplifies the understanding of the structure, function and role of proteins in the body by preparing samples for techniques such as mass spectrometry or enzyme activity studies. These capabilities are invaluable for identifying molecular drivers of cancer and tailoring treatment plans to the unique biological profiles of patients.
Laboratory efficiency and sustainable practice: a win-win
The drug discovery environment is incredibly fast-paced and resource-intensive. As an environmentally conscious institution, the ICR recognises it is more important than ever to find ways to maximise laboratory efficiency while minimising environmental impact. The Echo 650 has proven to be a pioneer on both fronts, making it a cornerstone of modern laboratory practices.
By transferring liquid droplets with the utmost precision for testing, the machine eliminates the need for disposable pipette tips, significantly reducing the ICR’s plastic waste. It also conserves expensive reagents by using minute liquid samples, ensuring every droplet is used wisely. This not only reduces costs and resources but also contributes to an eco-friendly approach to cancer research.
Dr Ewens said: “The Echo 650 allows us to do far more with less – fewer materials, less waste and less time spent on repetitive tasks, which gives way for more time on other projects. It’s made a huge difference for us in the Centre for Cancer Drug Discovery for both ongoing cancer drug discovery and our green sustainability credentials. Undertaking cancer drug discovery is already incredibly rewarding but knowing we’re doing it efficiently and sustainably is incredible”.
Accelerating innovation
Representing more than just another piece of technology, the Echo 650 signifies the power of innovation to transform cancer drug discovery.
Dr Stubbs said: “The technology is clean, fast and accurate, firmly cementing its position as an invaluable tool within the Centre for Cancer Drug Discovery for the complex experiments our research teams conduct every day. By enabling fast and precise science, the Echo 650 accelerates our mission of making the discoveries that defeat cancer.
“This progress wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of our supporters. The tools we have, such as the Echo 650, are only here in our labs due to the people who believe in what we do. Their contributions directly fuel our ability to make discoveries and bring hope to patients.”
With your continued support, we can ensure our laboratories at the Centre for Cancer Drug Discovery, and across the ICR, remain fully equipped with the latest state-of-the-art technologies that will maximise the throughput of our work and, in turn, the likelihood of us defeating cancer.