Portable Blood-Based Device Detects Colon Cancer

Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S., yet it is highly treatable when detected at an early stage. Traditional colonoscopy screenings, although effective, are unpleasant, expensive, and carry the risk of medical complications. Other screening methods, such as stool-based tests, may yield unreliable results and lead to false positives. To address these challenges, researchers are developing a less invasive and portable device that would use blood samples to detect colorectal cancer.

This device, currently being developed by scientists at The University of Texas at El Paso (El Paso, TX, USA), is designed to detect a colon cancer-specific protein called CCSP-2. The presence of CCSP-2 in colon cancer cells is 78 times greater than in normal colon cells, making its detection a strong indicator of the disease. Because CCSP-2 can also be found in the blood, it serves as an excellent biomarker—biological signals that help indicate the presence of specific diseases. The device, an electrochemical immunosensor, is capable of detecting CCSP-2 and is designed to be miniaturized and mass-produced, offering the potential for use in home settings or in doctors' offices.

Image: The device, designed by UTEP chemistry doctoral student Ruma Paul, simplifies colorectal cancer detection (Photo courtesy of UTEP)

Before the device can be made available to patients, it will need to be patented and undergo clinical trials, a process that can take several years. The study, published in ACS Measurement Science Au, marks the first in a series of research efforts aimed at evaluating the suitability of various biomarkers for the portable device. This research paves the way for the potential development of a simple, point-of-care portable device for detecting colorectal cancer. In addition, the team is focusing on identifying new proteins that are over-expressed at different stages of colon cancer, which could serve as additional biomarkers for testing on the device.

“The earlier the detection, the greater the hope for saving lives,” said study co-author Ruma Paul. “Blood-based tests are much easier on patients while also being able to precisely detect the early signs of colorectal cancer. Our research could one day make simpler early detection possible.”