Colorectal cancer represents a major challenge in Romania, where it is the second most common form of cancer, with approximately 13,000 new cases reported annually. Researchers have created a device that can detect colorectal and prostate cancer quickly and at low cost.
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Texas researchers have created an innovative device capable of detecting colorectal and prostate cancer in less than an hour. They believe this medical technology tool could be extremely valuable to developing countries, including Romania, which face higher cancer mortality rates, in part due to barriers to access to medical diagnostics, often delayed and complicated.
According to the document “Cancer Country Profile – 2023”developed by the National Center for the Supervision of Non-Communicable Diseases, Romania is faced with a health-related incidence of cancer that is below the European Union average, but with a mortality rate 7% higher than the EU average. This mortality trend has remained constant over the past decade. Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death, with a death rate that has increased by nearly 11% since 2000. Deaths have also increased for six other types of cancer, including colorectal cancer and prostate cancer, along with of breast, liver, bladder and pancreas cancer.
The incidence of cancer is influenced by social inequalities, and the high prevalence of risk factors, along with modest investments in primary and secondary prevention, contribute to the burden of this disease in Romania, according to the same document. Coverage of early detection testing services, including for colorectal cancer, is low and variable between urban and rural areas, as well as between different population groups by income. Although Romania implemented screening pilot projects, they were seriously disrupted by the pandemic context, and now the aim is to expand them to national programs.
“Our new biochip device is affordable – enabling accurate diagnosis for everyone”
Researchers at the University of Texas at El Paso have developed a portable device capable of detecting colorectal cancer and prostate cancer faster and cheaper than current medical technology methods.
“Our new biochip device is affordable – at a very low cost – and sensitive, which will allow everyone, regardless of financial status, to benefit from accurate disease diagnosis. The device is also portable, fast and requires no specialized tools”said XiuJun (James) Li, professor of chemistry and biochemistry at UTEP.
Li is the lead author of a new study describing the device, published recently in the journal Lab on a Chipwhich focuses on micro- and nanoscale devices.
“If biomarkers can be detected early, chances of survival increase”
Li explained that the most commonly used commercial method for detecting cancer biomarkers, known as ELISA, requires expensive equipment to work properly and can take 12 hours or more to process a sample. That processing time is even longer in rural areas of the U.S. or in developing countries, the researcher said, because patient samples must be transported to large cities with specialized instruments, which contributes to a higher death rate from cancer: “If biomarkers can be detected early, before this cancer has spread, the chances of survival of the patient increase considerably. Any delay in testing, especially in areas without access to expensive equipment and instruments, can seriously affect the patient’s prognosis.”
The device could be used for a wide range of cancers
The device created by Li’s team is microfluidic, meaning it can perform multiple functions using very small amounts of liquids. The device uses an innovative type structure “paper in a pool of polymer”, in which patients’ blood samples are placed in small cavities and on a special type of paper. It captures protein biomarkers of cancer from blood samples in just minutes. Afterwards, the paper changes color, and its intensity indicates the type of cancer detected and the stage of the disease’s progress.
So far, research has focused on prostate and colorectal cancer, but Li said the method they developed could be applicable to a wide range of cancers.
The prototype will be available on the market in a few years, after first being tested on patients
Li said the device can analyze a sample in just one hour, as opposed to the 16 hours required with some traditional methods. According to the results of the study, the device is also about 10 times more sensitive than traditional methods, even without the use of specialized instruments. This means the device can detect cancer biomarkers present in smaller amounts, specific to the early stages of the disease. Li pointed out that a less sensitive device might not pick up these low amounts.
Before the device is available to the public, Li noted that the prototype must be completed and the device will need to be tested on patients in a clinical trial, a process that could take several years. It also needs final approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before it can be used by doctors.
“Dr. XiuJun Li’s innovation significantly improves immediate medical testing, reducing detection times and the need for expensive instruments. This makes it ideal for resource-limited settings, which will facilitate early diagnosis and lead to better outcomes in Treatment cancer. I look forward to seeing what this innovation will bring”said Robert Kirken, dean of the College of Science, hopeful.
From pregnancy tests to biochips: A new era in cancer diagnosis
Innovation in the rapid diagnosis of colorectal and prostate cancer paves the way for already existing solutions in the medical field. Paper-in-a-Polymer technology is not just a theoretical concept, but a reality that has already been implemented in various diagnostic tests for a number of conditions.
This technology has been successfully used to develop devices that enable rapid and efficient diagnosis of infectious diseases, pregnancy tests and even the assessment of various health conditions. By integrating biomarkers on paper or polymer supports, researchers have been able to create affordable and easy-to-use solutions that can make a significant difference in the early diagnosis of conditions.
For example, rapid diagnostic tests for viral or bacterial infections already use similar concepts, demonstrating their effectiveness in resource-limited settings. Thus, the development of devices for the detection of colorectal and prostate cancer, based on the same principles, promises not only to improve the survival rate, but also to democratize access to diagnostics, especially in developing countries.
