A new saliva-based test can detect the presence of breast cancer biomarkers in seconds, providing on-the-spot results through a handheld device.
“Imagine medical staff conducting breast cancer screening in communities or hospitals,” Hsiao-Hsuan Wan, doctoral student in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Florida, Gainesville and lead author of the study, said.
Real-Time Results Without Radiation
The new saliva test strips and handheld device offer a portable way to screen for breast cancer biomarkers, according to the study published in the Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology B.
The device works by analyzing a saliva sample placed on a test strip coated with antibodies that respond to cancer biomarkers. When the test strip is inserted, electrical pulses are sent to contact points on the biosensor device.
The electrical signals are then measured and translated into digital information indicating the levels of cancer biomarkers present.
“Our device is an excellent choice because it is portable, reusable, and provides results in under five seconds per sample,” Mr. Wan said in a statement.
Compared to alternatives like mammograms, ultrasounds, and MRIs, the new test is inexpensive, non-invasive, and does not use radiation. Patients also receive results rapidly, in near real-time.
To determine efficacy, the researchers tested 21 human saliva samples, including from healthy patients, those with early stage breast cancer confined to milk ducts, and patients with advanced invasive breast cancer. The test successfully detected three cases of early breast cancer and 14 cases of invasive breast cancer.
The portable test could expand access to potentially life-saving diagnoses, particularly in areas without advanced medical facilities. But with a small initial sample size, questions remain about the accuracy and viability of the method before it’s ready for clinical use.
Hope for More Equitable Breast Cancer Screening
Saliva-based testing is gaining traction as a diagnostic tool for various health conditions including HIV, diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, and some cancers.
Saliva may outperform other sample types for disease detection and it may even turn out to be more accurate than blood for oral cancer screening, according to a 2008 study published in the European Journal of Dental Education.
Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among American women after skin cancer. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control reports that over 239,000 new cases are diagnosed in the U.S. every year. The American Cancer Society estimates one in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime.
While screening advances have reduced mortality rates by 42 percent since 1989 in the U.S., disparities exist globally.
A 2021 study on international breast cancer patterns found higher incidence in countries with limited access to mammograms and MRIs. The authors note that availability of screening impacts detection rates.
Expanded screening options, like the new saliva strip test, could increase early diagnosis and save lives. The portability and ease of the test can make it accessible to more people worldwide.
