UF developing handheld breast cancer detector
This release “UF researchers get closer to saliva test for breast cancer” was originally published by the UF Health Newsroom, written by Leah Buletti. UFCD’s Josephine Esquivel-Upshaw, D.M.D., M.S., M.S.-CI cited as senior research author & member of the UF Health Cancer Center
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — University of Florida researchers have improved a potentially transformative handheld device to detect breast cancer in saliva, simplifying the design and confirming its accuracy.
The pocket-sized biosensor quickly and accurately detected breast cancer and distinguished the type by measuring biomarkers in saliva samples, a study published in the journal Biosensors found.
“We were able to shrink the sensor platform so it fits in the palm of your hand, which was our whole drive: to make this accessible and portable for patients to be able to use,” said senior author Josephine Esquivel-Upshaw, D.M.D., M.S., M.S.-CI, a professor in the UF College of Dentistry and member of the UF Health Cancer Center. “The portable design means it’s a promising alternative for breast cancer detection and monitoring, particularly in rural communities.”
Esquivel-Upshaw worked with Fan Ren, Ph.D., a distinguished professor in the UF Department of Chemical Engineering, UF graduate student Hsiao-Husuan Wan and others in the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering to build the device with a reusable printed circuit board using commercially available glucose test strips. The mini-board was developed in collaboration with Yu-Te Liao, Ph.D., a professor in electrical engineering at the National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in Taiwan. They also developed a multi-channel test strip in collaboration with Taidoc in Taiwan. Each strip can test multiple biomarkers, reducing costs.
After the patient’s saliva is collected in a small sterile cup, the tip of the sensor strip is immersed in the sample for about 3 seconds. Then the strip is inserted into the strip connector on the printed circuit board. A measurement is displayed on the screen and transmitted to an app on a tablet or phone via Bluetooth technology, meaning results would be available in near-real time.
In testing with 29 patient saliva samples, the biosensor correctly identified patients who had breast cancer 100% of the time and correctly identified patients who did not have breast cancer 86% of the time. That means it successfully minimized false negative tests. The biosensor could also distinguish between healthy patients, patients with carcinoma in situ and patients with invasive breast cancer.
The team hopes the biosensor will become an additional tool for breast cancer screening, potentially as a starting point to indicate whether a patient needs a mammogram or as a companion to indicate if more advanced imaging like an MRI is needed.
“It’s very exciting because this device could improve access to breast cancer screening and significantly reduce health care costs,” said Coy Heldermon, M.D., Ph.D., a breast oncologist at UF Health and study co-author. “If all holds true, it would be a game-changer.”
About 1 in 8 women get breast cancer. Screening can help detect cancer early, when it’s most treatable. The American Cancer Society recommends annual mammograms starting at age 40. MRIs are recommended for women with certain risk factors, like family history.
But fear of discomfort, cost, time off work or other factors can be barriers to screening.
Esquivel-Upshaw knows this firsthand: her mother died from breast cancer, so she’s at high risk. She gets either a mammogram or an MRI every six months. “It’s a hassle and it can be discouraging,” Esquivel-Upshaw said. “I would much rather give a simple saliva sample at home that would inform the next steps in screening.”
Heldermon likened the biosensor to the at-home Cologuard test that has expanded access to colorectal cancer screening.
“You send in some spit or better yet have the sensor sent to you, it does the measurement and if it’s positive, you get sent for additional testing,” he said. “That is so much more practical and would have so much better uptake among patients.”
Next, the team is testing more biomarkers in saliva, with the goal of determining which predict breast cancer best. Ultimately, the biosensor could be calibrated to detect a range of diseases and have far broader applications, Esquivel-Upshaw said.
The team has obtained several patents related to the biosensor. The work has received funding from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, part of the National Institutes of Health, and the UF College of Dentistry.