Gaoyan Tong

One of the key characteristics of malignant tumors is their ability to metastasize, and abnormal distribution or imbalanced concentrations of intracellular metal elements are closely associated with cancer cell migration and invasion. Metal ions play key roles in signal transduction, redox homeostasis, and enzyme activity regulation; therefore, abnormalities in their distribution may directly impact the metastatic potential of tumor cells. Accurately measuring the content and spatial distribution of metal elements in individual cells is fundamental to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of tumor metastasis and the advancement of personalized precision therapy. Single-cell inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)-based analytical methods can reveal the content and distribution of elements at the single-cell level and hold broad application prospects in biomedical research. Therefore, by developing and optimizing single-cell ICP-ToF-MS technology to achieve high-resolution, simultaneous multi-element detection in cells and compare differences in metal content and distribution between different cells, we can gain insights into cellular heterogeneity and further reveal the regulatory role of metals in tumor development and progression. 
 

• Lab address: Atomic & Mass Spectrometry - A&MS research unit,
  Ghent University, Department of Chemistry,
  Campus Sterre, Krijgslaan 281 - S12, 9000 Gent
• A&MS lab
• Gaoyan Tong is interested to receive invitations for presentations or talks