Scientists closer to developing paper litmus-like test for cancer

BOSTON, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- In the not-so-distant future, scientists hope to detect cancer and other non-communicable diseases by simply dipping a piece of paper into a urine sample -- like taking a pregnancy test or a pH reading.

Now, that hope is a little closer to being realized, thanks to the work of MIT grad student Andrew Warren and his colleagues. Warren and his fellow researchers recently demonstrated the possibility of a paper test for cancer on several specimens of mice.

The MIT scientists developed nanoparticles designed to travel through the bloodstream looking for specific proteins associated with diseased tissue, such as a tumor. When a malignancy is found, the nanoparticles release compounds that make their way into the blood stream and then into urine. A strip of paper, called a "paper lateral flow assay," dipped into a urine sample can then detect the presence of these compounds.

"Something I think that's really shocking is the prevalence of cancer and cardiovascular disease in both the developed world and the developing world," Warren told New Scientist. "Diagnostics are really a great way to help a lot of people as quickly as possible."

Two kinds of nanoparticles, or biomarkers, created by Warren and his colleagues were able to locate and signal the presence of colorectal cancer and blood clots in mice.

“Together, the LFA and injectable synthetic biomarkers, which could be tailored for multiple diseases, form a generalized diagnostic platform for NCDs that can be applied in almost any setting without expensive equipment or trained medical personnel,” the researchers wrote.

The study was recently published in PNAS.

Warren says he and his team can develop biomarkers to detect other types of health problems. He plans to launch a company to market the new technology for use in humans.

[New Scientist] [PNAS]