Improved platelet separation performance from whole blood using an acoustic fluidics system

• Published in: Cancer science 2024-11, Vol.115 (11), p.3795-3803
• Main Authors: Sakai, Kazuko, Ohara, Shuta, Tanaka, Junko, Suda, Kenichi, Muramatsu, Takamichi, Uematsu, Chihiro, Tsutani, Yasuhiro, Mitsudomi, Tetsuya, Nishio, Kazuto
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: acoustic separation; Acoustics; Aged; Automation; Biopsy; Blood; Blood platelets; Blood Platelets - metabolism; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - blood; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - genetics; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - pathology; Cell Separation - methods; Centrifugation; Centrifugation - methods; Female; Gene expression; Gene Expression Profiling - methods; Humans; Leukocytes; Leukocytes (mononuclear); Leukocytes, Mononuclear - metabolism; Lung cancer; Lung Neoplasms - blood; Lung Neoplasms - genetics; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Male; Methods; Middle Aged; Mutation; Non-small cell lung carcinoma; non–small‐cell lung cancer; Original; ORIGINAL ARTICLE; Patients; Peripheral blood mononuclear cells; Plasma; platelet; Platelets; RNA; Transcriptome; Transcriptomes; Tumor Microenvironment; Tumors; tumor‐educated platelet; Ultrasonic imaging
• ISSN: 1347-9032; 1349-7006; 1349-7006
• DOI: 10.1111/cas.16337

This study investigated the effectiveness of acoustic separation for platelet analysis in patients with non–small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC), comparing it with traditional centrifugation methods. In total, 10 patients with NSCLC and 10 healthy volunteers provided peripheral blood samples, which were processed using either acoustic separation or centrifugation to isolate platelets. The study included whole transcriptome analysis of platelets, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and tumor tissue samples, employing hierarchical clustering and Gene Ontology analysis to explore gene expression differences. Acoustic separation proved more efficient than centrifugation in terms of platelet yield, recovery rate, and RNA yield. Gene expression profiles of platelets from patients with NSCLC showed distinct patterns compared with healthy volunteers, indicating tumor‐influenced alterations. Gene Ontology analysis revealed enrichment in pathways associated with platelet activation and the tumor microenvironment. This finding indicates the potential of acoustic isolation in platelet separation and its relevance in understanding the unique gene expression profile of platelets in patients with NSCLC. The findings of this study suggested that platelets from cancer patients separated by acoustic techniques exhibited tumor‐specific alterations and provided new insights into the diagnosis of cancer in platelet analysis systems in clinical practice. Hierarchical clustering of platelets, peripheral blood monocytes, and tumor tissue in a non–small‐cell lung cancer patient is shown. Platelets separated by sonic separation are shown to be identical to tumor‐enhanced platelets obtained by centrifugation.