Researchers at the University of Florida in collaboration with National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in Taiwan have created a portable biosensor that can identify oral cancer quickly and with high precision. The team reported their findings in a peer reviewed publication, detailing the sensor’s performance under controlled conditions and its potential for real world use.
Oral cancer ranks among the more common cancers globally and is responsible for a large number of fatalities each year. Yet the outlook improves dramatically with early detection, as survival rates rise well above ninety percent when the disease is found at an early stage. The new device aims to make early detection more accessible by offering a simple, point of care test that can be performed outside traditional laboratories, potentially leading to faster referrals and treatment decisions.
The device operates in a manner similar to a familiar glucose meter. It features a small fluid channel containing several electrodes coated with antibodies that specifically recognize molecules associated with oral cancer. When target biomarkers bind to these antibodies, the electrodes generate electrical signals. These pulses are translated into a four digit readout on the display, representing the concentration of the biomarker and providing an objective measure that clinicians can interpret alongside other diagnostic information.
Looking ahead, the researchers plan to move toward in vivo clinical trials involving individuals diagnosed with oral cancer. In these trials, the new biosensor’s accuracy and reliability will be compared against the current gold standard diagnostic method, biopsy, to establish its effectiveness in detecting cancerous tissue in living patients and guiding subsequent care decisions.