Low-Cost, Ultrasensitive Blood Test Detects ‘Pan-Cancer’ Biomarker

Speedy, precise, and cost-effective diagnostic tools for early detection of cancer are essential for quicker patient care and improved treatment plans. Unfortunately, existing methods for assessing cancer often lack specificity and sensitivity, and they can be expensive. In response, experts in the field of pathology have created an ultra-sensitive test capable of identifying a specific cancer biomarker found in several common types of cancer.

A collaborative effort involving researchers from the Wyss Institute (Boston, MA, USA), Mass General Brigham (Boston, MA, USA), and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (Boston, MA, USA), along with scientists from across the U.S. and other countries, has resulted in the development of a low-cost, ultrasensitive blood test. This test can detect minuscule amounts of a cancer biomarker in just half a drop of blood (25 microliters). The team examined the efficacy of this test in identifying the biomarker in various cancers, such as ovarian, gastroesophageal, and colon cancer. The test demonstrated its potential for early cancer detection and monitoring and could complement other diagnostic tools for risk assessment and treatment strategies.

The new test leverages a single-molecule-based detection technology known as SIMOA developed by the Walt lab. The test aims to identify the Open Reading Frame 1 protein (ORF1p), a protein found in many cancers but not in normal tissues, and which is indicative of a high risk of deadly cancer. The research team's initial trials exceeded their expectations, leading to several rounds of refinements and further testing in patient samples. In their assessments, the ultra-sensitive test was successful in quantifying ORF1p levels in the blood samples from cancer patients and showed high specificity, as it was rarely found in 'healthy' individuals.

In further studies involving tissue samples from approximately 200 colon cancer patients and 75 esophageal biopsies, ORF1p was commonly found in carcinomas and high-risk precursor lesions. Going forward, the team believes that this tool could augment existing tests for better early detection methods. It also has the potential to enable physicians to track patient responses to cancer treatments in real-time and modify them as necessary. The researchers are now partnering with clinicians to explore the test's accuracy in larger studies and different patient groups to understand better how useful the ORF1p biomarker might be in patient care. They are also investigating the biomarker's potential for categorizing cancer risk levels in patients.

“We’ve known since the 1980s that transposable elements were active in some cancers, and nearly 10 years ago we reported that ORF1p was a pervasive cancer biomarker, but, until now, we haven’t had the ability to detect it in blood tests,” said co-corresponding author Kathleen Burns, MD, PhD, Chair of the Department of Pathology at Dana-Farber. “Having a technology capable of detecting ORF1p in blood opens so many possibilities for clinical applications. We were fortunate to assemble this tremendous team to push the limits of these assays and obtain and test these precious samples. There’s a lot of excitement as our work continues.”

Related Links:
Wyss Institute 
Mass General Brigham 
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute