Lung cancer could be detected in its early stages with a simple urine test. The information comes from a study published in the journal Science Advances, in which the potential for the early detection of lung cancer with the help of nanosensors was analyzed. Once inside the body, the sensors detect the presence of proteins specific to lung cancer, generating signals that are later revealed through a urine test. The whole process takes about two hours.
Being fast, affordable and non-invasive, such an approach could facilitate lung cancer screening. Currently, the recommended screening method is low-dose CT. Despite the advantages of low-dose CT, there are many geographical areas that do not have the medical equipment necessary to carry out lung cancer screening, or even if the technology exists, people’s access is difficult.
Scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a series of inhalable nanosensors, covered with DNA sequences, which when they encounter the presence of specific lung cancer markers in the body, are detached from the surface of the sensors, being released into the blood. Subsequently, the presence of DNA sequences can be shown using a urine test. The method does not require the processing of urine samples, and the results can be read after only 20 minutes.
The technology has only been tested on laboratory mice genetically modified so that they can develop human-like tumors. The sensors were delivered in both aerosol and inhalable powder form 7.5 weeks after tumor development (a time span associated with stage I and II human tumors). Out of a total of 20 nanosensors, 4 were found to have the highest precision and accuracy, 100% specificity and 84.6% sensitivity. According to the authors of the study, for the detection of tumors in human subjects, a larger number of sensors may be needed.
“It’s a more complex version of pregnancy tests, but it’s very easy to use. While developing this technology, our goal was to generate a method that can detect cancer with high specificity and sensitivity, while facilitating people’s access to this type of screening, in such a way as to improve the distribution of resources medical services and to reduce inequalities regarding the early detection of lung cancer” – SAYS Qian ZhongPhD, MIT researcher and co-author of the study.
The MIT research team is currently analyzing human biopsy samples to see if the previously described sensors can also perform in human samples. Translating this technology to humans can pose a number of challenges. Given that human tumors contain different types of cancer cells, a larger number of sensors may be needed, not just 4 as in the case of laboratory mice. At the same time, in the case of humans there are a number of variable parameters (such as diet, hydration level, treatments followed, conditions, renal function, etc.) that can interfere with the test’s ability to identify certain components in urine, thus reducing its performance.
More than 20% of all oncological deaths in the European Union are caused by lung cancer. The prognosis for patients with lung cancer is poor, with approximately 7 out of 8 patients (13%) dying within the first 5 years after diagnosis. The reason for these gloomy statistics is the diagnosis in the advanced stages of the disease.
Access the Information Center regarding the new EU recommendations for cancer screening on Raportuldegardă.ro
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2024-02-13 08:47:22
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