A groundbreaking discovery in cancer detection has been made by a team of scientists from the University of Notre Dame in the US. This new method of detecting brain cancer, known as a ‘liquid biopsy’, requires only 100 microliters of blood and can identify biomarkers associated with glioblastoma, the deadliest and most common type of brain tumor, in just an hour. This innovative approach surpasses all other existing tests and markers for glioblastoma with exceptional accuracy.
The Science Behind the Innovation
The liquid biopsy is based on detecting mutated blood biomarkers, specifically epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFRs), which are overexpressed in certain cancers, including glioblastoma. These biomarkers are carried within extracellular vesicles, unique nanoparticles secreted by cells, containing proteins, lipids, and genetic material from their original cells. By leveraging the features of these extracellular vesicles, the scientists were able to develop a technology specifically designed for detecting these nanoparticles.
To detect cancer biomarkers in blood, a supersensitive biochip, costing less than $2, was used in conjunction with a tiny sensor containing antibodies drawn to exosomes carrying mutated EGFRs. When these EGFRs attach to the biochip, a voltage change occurs in the plasma solution, indicating the possible presence of cancer. In experiments using clinical blood samples from patients with glioblastoma and healthy individuals, the liquid biopsy demonstrated excellent accuracy in detecting cancer biomarkers with a very low p-value, making the test highly replicable.
While the liquid biopsy shows great promise in cancer research and disease monitoring, there are still some challenges to address. Mutated EGFRs are associated with various diseases, not just glioblastomas, which limits the specificity of the test. Additionally, the test cannot determine the type or location of cancer in the body, nor the stage of disease progression. To enhance the specificity of the test, further analysis of larger cohorts of glioblastoma patients is needed to identify unique blood biomarkers for different cancers at various stages.
The development of a liquid biopsy for brain cancer detection marks a significant advancement in the field of cancer diagnosis. With its ability to detect cancer biomarkers in a minimally invasive manner, this innovative technology has the potential to revolutionize how cancers are diagnosed and monitored. While there are still challenges to overcome, the liquid biopsy opens up new possibilities for personalized medicine and targeted cancer therapies in the future.
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