New paper cancer detector costs less than a cup of coffee

A remarkable new device promises to make cancer detection cheaper, faster and more accessible than ever before.

As described in an upcoming issue of Lab on a Chip, researchers at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) say they have developed a system that can detect cancer markers in the blood with greater responsiveness than current diagnostic methods.

Known as a paper-in-polymer-pond (PiPP) device, the new test platform combines paper similar to that found in coffee filters with a plastic frame.

Using a drop of blood from a patient, PiPP targets two cancer markers: carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), which is associated with colorectal cancer, and prostate-specific antigen (PSA), which indicates prostate cancer.

CEA and PSA appear in the blood in the early stages of cancer, making them historically difficult to detect. However, the new device can pick up these markers at low concentrations, making them roughly 10 times more sensitive than test kits on the market.

“Our new biochip device is low-cost—just a few dollars—and sensitive, which will make accurate disease diagnosis accessible to anyone, rich or poor,” lead author XiuJun (James) Li , a professor of chemistry and biochemistry at UTEP. said in a statement.

“It’s portable, fast, and eliminates the need for specialized instrumentation,” Li added.

This promising development comes on the heels of a surprising new study that suggests Gen X and millennial Americans are at higher risk of developing 17 cancers compared to older generations.

Colorectal cancer, which the PiPP device may be able to detect in its early stages, has steadily increased in adults under 50 since the 1990s. Young people who develop colon cancer tend to be diagnosed at later stages of the devastating disease — and have more aggressive types of tumors — but PiPP’s promise of earlier detection could equate to lifesaving intervention.

Prostate cancer is similarly driving the current cancer epidemic, with 10% of new diagnoses in the US occurring in men under 55.

Prostate cancer deaths are expected to increase by 136% from 2022 to 2050 worldwide. As with all cancers, early detection is key – and the new PiPP device could prove to be a game changer.

And the device not only provides early diagnoses, but quick results. Compared to the 16 hours that traditional testing takes, PiPP provides results in just one hour, and those results can be read with a smartphone.

Researchers note that developing countries often lack access to cancer screening methods and resources such as laboratory equipment and providers, a limitation that makes early detection difficult and mortality rates higher.

However, the PiPP device – which is affordable, reusable and user-friendly – ​​helps level the playing field for early diagnosis.

Robert Kirken, dean of the College of Science at UTEP, said the innovation “significantly improves point-of-care diagnostics by reducing detection time and the need for costly instrumentation.”

“This makes it ideal for resource-limited settings, which will improve early diagnosis and lead to better cancer outcomes. I look forward to seeing what this innovation leads to,” he added.

While the potential is promising, it may be several years before the PiPP device is commercially available.

The prototype will be tested for efficacy and safety through clinical trials and will eventually seek approval from the US Food and Drug Administration before being made available to healthcare providers.