Researchers have developed a portable device capable of detecting colorectal and prostate cancer more efficiently and at a lower cost than current methods. The team is optimistic about the device’s potential benefits in developing nations, where cancer mortality rates are higher due to diagnostic challenges.
A team from The University of Texas at El Paso has designed a portable apparatus that can swiftly and affordably identify colorectal and prostate cancer, surpassing existing techniques. This invention could prove particularly advantageous in developing regions, which face elevated cancer death rates largely due to difficulties in obtaining medical diagnoses.
“Our new biochip device is inexpensive—costing only a few dollars—and highly sensitive, ensuring that accurate disease diagnosis is within reach for everyone, regardless of economic status,” stated Dr. XiuJun (James) Li, a chemistry and biochemistry professor at UTEP. “Its portability and speed mean there’s no requirement for specialized equipment.”
Dr. Li is the principal author of a recent study detailing this device, which is published in Lab on a Chip, a journal dedicated to micro-scale and nanoscale technologies.
He noted that the prevailing commercial technique for cancer biomarker detection, known as ELISA, relies on expensive instruments and can require up to twelve hours or more to analyze a sample. This lag is even more pronounced in rural areas or developing nations, where samples must be transported to larger cities equipped with the necessary tools, further increasing cancer mortality rates.
“Early detection of biomarkers correlates with improved survival rates for patients. Any delays in testing, particularly in regions lacking costly equipment, can severely impact a patient’s prognosis,” Dr. Li emphasized.
The device his team has engineered operates on a microfluidic basis, enabling it to conduct various functions with minimal fluid quantities. It utilizes a groundbreaking ‘paper-in-polymer-pond’ design, where blood samples are placed into tiny wells on a specialized paper that collects cancer protein biomarkers in just a few minutes. The paper then changes color, with the intensity of the hue indicating the type of cancer detected and its progression level.
While research has so far concentrated on prostate and colorectal cancers, Dr. Li mentioned that the technique could be extended to assess numerous other cancer types.
Dr. Li reported that this device can analyze a sample within an hour, significantly quicker than the 16 hours required by some conventional methods. The study indicates that the device is also approximately ten times more sensitive than traditional approaches, even without specialized equipment. Consequently, it can identify cancer biomarkers that are present in smaller amounts, which are characteristic of early-stage cancer. Less sensitive devices might miss these minimal quantities, Dr. Li explained.
Before the device can be made available to the public, it must undergo finalization of the prototype and testing on patients through clinical trials, a process that may take several years and will require approval from the Food and Drug Administration.
“Dr. XiuJun Li’s advancement greatly enhances point-of-care diagnostics by minimizing detection times and eliminating the reliance on expensive instruments,” remarked Robert Kirken, dean of the College of Science. “This makes it particularly suitable for settings with limited resources, improving early diagnosis and resulting in better cancer outcomes. I eagerly anticipate the developments this innovation will bring.”
Another co-author of the study is Sanjay Timilsina, Ph.D., a former graduate research assistant at UTEP. Dr. Li serves on the advisory board for Lab on a Chip.
