Microchip technology test to detect oral cancer
A new test for oral cancer which a dentist could perform by simply using a brush to collect cells from a patient’s mouth, is set to be developed by researchers at the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom.
The international research team has been awarded $2 million from the Unites State’s National Institutes of Health to develop the test, which could provide an accurate diagnosis in less than 20 minutes for lesions where there is a suspicion of oral cancer.
The team in Sheffield, led by Professor Martin Thornhill, has begun carrying out clinical trials for two years to perfect the technology and make it as sensitive as possible.
If the trials confirm that the new technology is as effective as carrying out a biopsy then it could become a regular application at dental surgeries in the future. If oral cancer is detected early, the prognosis for patients is excellent, with a five-year survival rate of more than 90%.
Many oral cancers are not diagnosed early and the overall survival rate is only about 50%, among the lowest rates for all major cancers.
The nano-bio-chips are disposable and slotted like a credit card into a battery-powered analyser. The technology is also being considered for future research projects for diagnosis and management of heart attacks, diabetes and other diseases.
