To better understand cancer cells - why they arise in the body, how they differ from normal cells, why they grow uncontrollably, how our immune system responds to them and how they can be targeted more successfully for treatment - scientists use sophisticated technologies to identify and characterize these aberrant cells and the cells that they interact with, including cells of the immune system. Flow cytometry, a laser-based technology for characterizing and purifying cells, is the method of choice for studying the molecular features that distinguish cancer cells from normal cells. The central goal of this proposal is to take advantage of recent transformative advancements in flow cytometry...

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To better understand cancer cells - why they arise in the body, how they differ from normal cells, why they grow uncontrollably, how our immune system responds to them and how they can be targeted more successfully for treatment - scientists use sophisticated technologies to identify and characterize these aberrant cells and the cells that they interact with, including cells of the immune system. Flow cytometry, a laser-based technology for characterizing and purifying cells, is the method of choice for studying the molecular features that distinguish cancer cells from normal cells. The central goal of this proposal is to take advantage of recent transformative advancements in flow cytometry to enhance the capabilities for analysis of cancer cells of all types and the cells that cancer cells interact with in the body, particularly cells of the immune system. We propose the addition of several cutting-edge flow cytometry instruments to the Flow Cytometry Shared Resource of the Mays Cancer Center and the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. These additions will significantly increase the capabilities of the FCSR and will allow cancer researchers in San Antonio and South Texas to rapidly and simultaneously measure many more characteristics of cancer cells, normal cells and immune cells, than is currently possible, leading to a greater depth of understanding and more rapid discoveries. One of the proposed instruments will even take high-resolution photographs of individual cancer cells in a large mixed population of healthy and diseased cells at a very high rate of speed, allowing researchers to confirm visually the nature and composition of the cells that they are studying. The FCSR will be capable of providing cutting-edge flow cytometry, an outstanding and well-trained support staff, strong management and institutional support and oversight to accelerate progress on high impact cancer research projects led by South Texas cancer researchers.

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