Portable Device Developed for Cancer Detection

A hand held low-cost device is being developed to diagnose cancer especially for limited-resource settings.

The analyzer is operated using mobile electronic devices and performs genetic analysis on micro-ribonucleic acids (miRNAs) which are single-stranded molecules that regulate genes. Changes in certain miRNAs and other genetic marker have been linked to cancer and other health-related issues.

Scientists at Michigan State University (MSU; East Lansing, MI, USA) have developed the genetic analyzer called the Gene-Z which has the capability to screen for established markers of cancer very inexpensively in the field. As it is a hand-held device operated by a solar charged battery, it is particularly useful in limited-resource settings found in the developing world. In addition to cancer detection, the Gene-Z device also is being developed to diagnose routine tuberculosis (TB) and drug-resistant TB, determine human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) levels during treatment and monitor overall antibiotic resistance.

The Gene-Z has been tested using an iPod Touch (Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA, USA) or Android-based tablets (Open Handset Alliance; Mountain View, CA, USA). Syed Hashsham, PhD, a professor at MSU collaborated with Reza Nassiri, MD, PhD, director of MSU's Institute of International Health, to establish connections with physicians worldwide. Prof. Hashsham said, "Gene-Z has the capability to screen for established markers of cancer at extremely low costs in the field, because it is a hand-held device operated by a battery and chargeable by solar energy, it is extremely useful in limited-resource settings."

Prof. Nassiri added, "Until now, little effort has been concentrated on moving cancer detection to global health settings in resource-poor countries. Early cancer detection in these countries may lead to affordable management of cancers with the aid of new screening and diagnostic technologies that can overcome global health care disparities." The Gene-Z device was presented at the US National Institutes of Health's Cancer Detection and Diagnostics Conference, which took place August 22-23, 2011, in Bethesda (MD, USA).

Related Links:
Michigan State University
Apple Inc.
Open Handset Alliance