We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
INTEGRA BIOSCIENCES AG

Download Mobile App




Brush Biopsy Test Detects Oral Cancer without Surgery

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 18 Jan 2024

Oral squamous cell carcinoma, the most common type of oral cancer and globally the ninth most prevalent cancer, currently relies on surgical biopsies for diagnosis. More...

This additional referral step poses the risk of losing patients who may not return for follow-up until the cancer has progressed to advanced, more challenging stages. Additionally, surgical biopsies can be problematic as they often collect a mix of cell types, complicating the analysis, and creating the risk of spreading cancerous cells to other parts of the mouth. General blood tests looking for cancer's genetic signals also have limitations, as they do not specify the tumor’s location, preventing quick initiation of treatment after detection. Now, a new test that allows dentists to screen for oral squamous cell carcinoma with a simple brush could early detection of oral cancer without surgery.

The diagnostic kit, created by researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago (Urbana, IL, USA), employs a small brush to gather cells from potential cancerous lesions in the mouth. It operates by detecting tiny segments of genetic material, known as microRNA, which regulate gene expression. Studies conducted by the researchers found a unique expression signature of 40 microRNA sequences that can accurately differentiate between a tumor and normal tissue with more than 90% accuracy. Significantly, their test also successfully works with epithelial cells, the outermost layer in the patient’s mouth. These cells can be quickly and painlessly collected in under a minute by a dentist or nurse using gentle brushing. After collection, the brush is placed in a solution tube and sent to a lab for microRNA analysis, with results being available within days using the current test version.

The brush biopsy test offers several advantages, including specific targeting of the tissue site. The researchers anticipate that this new test will simplify screening, especially in populations that lack regular dental care or are more prone to oral squamous cell carcinoma. For instance, Black men, who experience significantly lower survival rates with this disease compared to other racial groups, could benefit greatly. The potential for using this technology in non-clinical settings opens up opportunities for earlier cancer detection in high-risk groups. Additionally, this approach could eventually help diagnose other oral diseases, each identified by unique microRNA signatures.

“We were the first to observe that brush biopsy samples actually work quite well when you use microRNA,” said Guy Adami of the UIC College of Dentistry. “All you need is a good light and the brushes.”

“There are 600 different diseases that occur in the mouth, and a number of these have already been characterized with microRNAs,” added Dr. Joel Schwartz of the UIC College of Dentistry. “We could use the same approach and really have a profound impact on these kinds of disease.”

Related Links:
University of Illinois Chicago


Gold Member
Serological Pipet Controller
PIPETBOY GENIUS
Verification Panels for Assay Development & QC
Seroconversion Panels
New
Chlamydia Pneumoniae Test
Chlamydia Pneumoniae (CP) Real Time PCR Kit
New
Compound Management Solution
comPOUND
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image: The POC device rapidly predicts neonatal respiratory disease at birth in the NICU (Photo courtesy of SIME Diagnostics)

AI-Powered Lung Maturity Test Identifies Newborns at Higher Risk of Respiratory Distress

Each year, approximately 300,000 babies in the United States are born between 32 and 36 weeks' gestation, according to national health data. This group is at an elevated risk for respiratory distress,... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: CitoCBC is the world first cartridge-based CBC to be granted CLIA Waived status by FDA (Photo courtesy of CytoChip)

Disposable Cartridge-Based Test Delivers Rapid and Accurate CBC Results

Complete Blood Count (CBC) is one of the most commonly ordered lab tests, crucial for diagnosing diseases, monitoring therapies, and conducting routine health screenings. However, more than 90% of physician... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: The cancer stem cell test can accurately choose more effective treatments (Photo courtesy of University of Cincinnati)

Stem Cell Test Predicts Treatment Outcome for Patients with Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer

Epithelial ovarian cancer frequently responds to chemotherapy initially, but eventually, the tumor develops resistance to the therapy, leading to regrowth. This resistance is partially due to the activation... Read more

Pathology

view channel
Image: A biomarker discovery pipeline has shown promise as a noninvasive method of diagnosing CRC (Photo courtesy of NCI Center for Cancer Research)

Machine Learning Tool Enables Noninvasive Diagnosis and Monitoring of Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States when considering both genders. Colonoscopy remains the gold standard for CRC diagnosis, but it is invasive,... Read more

Technology

view channel
Image: Scanning electron microscopy images showing 3D micro-printed Limacon-shaped whispering-gallery-mode microcavities with different amounts of deformation (Photo courtesy of A. Ping Zhang/PolyU)

Tiny Microlaser Sensors with Supercharged Biosensing Ability to Enable Early Disease Diagnosis

Optical whispering-gallery-mode microlaser sensors function by trapping light within tiny microcavities. When target molecules bind to the cavity, they induce subtle changes in the laser’s frequency, allowing... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.