Tracking carboplatin chemoresistance in ovarian cancer by scanning electrochemical microscopy

Abstract

Drug resistance in cancer presents a significant challenge in oncology, contributing to most chemotherapy failures. Early detection of drug resistance is crucial for improving treatment outcomes. Ovarian cancer is often treated with platinum-based drugs, such as carboplatin (CBDCA), but unfortunately, resistance to these compounds is common. The exact mechanisms behind platinum-based drug-resistance remain unclear. This research demonstrates the use of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) to track the cellular response to chemotherpeutic exposure through the quantification of glutathione, a cellular antioxidant, as a biomarker for cellular drug resistance. In the presence of the redox mediator ferrocenemethanol, SECM successfully tracks differential cell redox behaviours in CBDCA-susceptible and CBDCA-resistant ovarian cancer cell models in response to chemotherapeutic exposure. The presented study highlights the potential of using electrochemistry to detect and quantify chemoresistance in cell samples within minutes.