New Biosensor Offers Early Detection Potential for Breast Cancer

Treatment or mitigation of the effects of cancer has long been a major research focus for scientists. A late diagnosis can lead to the spread and metastasis of cancer, where cancer cells are transferred to different parts of the body through lymph nodes. Dr. Jalil Parchekani, a researcher at Tarbiat Modares University, has conducted a study, funded by the Iran National Science Foundation (INSF), to develop a novel biosensor to improve early breast cancer diagnosis.

“Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among Iranian women,” said Parchekani, a young biophysicist based in Tehran. “The lack of a widely available serum biomarker with desirable sensitivity for early prognosis makes the role of MicroRNAs (miRNAs) in early diagnosis prominent.”

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a large family of small, non-coding RNAs, approximately 18-25 nucleotides in length, that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. MiRNAs are involved in various biological processes and play crucial roles in cellular functions such as differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. Due to their role in cancer diagnosis, microRNAs have been used as biomarkers. Detecting and counting cancer-specific microRNAs in tissues and blood can increase the effectiveness of treatment. However, the very small number of microRNAs compared to other blood factors presents a major challenge in identifying these molecules.

To address this issue, Dr. Parchekani developed a highly sensitive, low-cost, and low-consumption electrochemical biosensor. The biosensor is designed for detecting breast cancer based on miR-21, an important microRNA involved in breast cancer. It has a high sensitivity with a limit of detection of 0.12 zeptomolar and is highly reproducible. Additionally, the biosensor has a wide linear range, from a concentration of 1 zeptomolar to 200 nanomoles of miR-21, and can specifically measure miR-21. Dr. Parchekani believes the developed biosensor has a high potential for biomedical experiments and early clinical diagnosis of breast cancer.