New Method Offers Sustainable Approach to Universal Metabolic Cancer Diagnosis

Globally, more than one billion people suffer from a high rate of missed disease diagnosis, highlighting the urgent need for more precise and affordable diagnostic tools. Such tools are especially crucial in ecologically sensitive and resource-limited areas, underscoring the importance of developing solutions that can enhance health outcomes sustainably under limited resources. Metabolic diagnosis is a promising approach but currently faces hurdles related to the suitability of biospecimens and the reliability of analytical tools.

At Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Shanghai, China), researchers have developed a new diagnostic method that combines dried serum spots (DSS) with nanoparticle-enhanced laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (NPELDI MS). This method enables the rapid and cost-effective diagnosis of various cancers with an accuracy comparable to that of traditional serum tests. Utilizing an eco-friendly and simple protocol, this innovative tool can significantly lower the high percentages of undiagnosed cases in less economically developed regions. For instance, it could decrease undiagnosed colorectal cancer from 84.30% to 29.20%, gastric cancer from 77.57% to 57.22%, and pancreatic cancer from 34.56% to 9.30%. This represents an overall reduction in undiagnosed cases by approximately 20.35–55.10%. The study demonstrates how this new method can contribute to more sustainable metabolic diagnosis practices, maximizing health benefits in areas most in need.

Image: The new method could reduce undiagnosed cancer cases in less-developed regions (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

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Shanghai Jiao Tong University