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Cancer can be diagnosed with special paper test strips
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has developed an express method for detecting oncological diseases in the human body that does not require much time and, moreover, is not expensive. The new method for diagnosing malignant tumors resembles the pregnancy test that is already familiar to everyone, and is carried out according to the same principle: using a small amount of urine and a special test strip, the result can be seen in a couple of minutes.
Several years ago, a diagnostic system for non-communicable diseases was presented that was based on synthetic biomarkers capable of enhancing signals from certain enzymes that break down peptide bonds in proteins. In this case, we are talking about MMPs - tumor matrix metalloproteinases, due to which the structure of proteins is disrupted, and cancer cells grow. A scientific group headed by Sangeeta Bakhtia created tiny particles onto which they applied a special solution for binding to tumor MMPs. Nanoparticles, after entering the body, gradually begin to accumulate in the pathological formation, where MMPs begin to decompose the peptides applied to their surface. These nanoparticles, together with decay products, collect in the kidneys and are excreted from the body with urine. Their presence in urine can be determined by mass spectral analysis. Experts have simplified the procedure and adapted the particles so that they can be detected visually using enzyme immunoassay, similar to the test systems used to detect certain infections in the body, as well as pregnancy tests.
Special strips are impregnated with antibodies to peptides (in the form of strips) at a certain level. When the strip is immersed in a urine sample containing an antigen, interaction with the antibody begins. Urine is gradually absorbed and interacts with antibodies to various enzymes, which are applied in several lines. If one of the lines on the test strip begins to appear, then the desired enzyme is in the urine sample. As the authors note, this express method can be adapted to determine different types of peptides, characteristic of different types of oncological diseases or at different stages of the process.
Express diagnostics of cancerous growths was tested on laboratory rodents. In the test, scientists used synthetic biomarkers that were adapted to determine colorectal oncology. In addition to detecting cancerous growths, specialists were also able to detect thrombosis of blood vessels, which indicates that this method does not require expensive equipment or specially trained personnel. With the help of a small amount of urine and an express test, it is also possible to diagnose diseases of the heart and blood vessels.
According to the author of the project, Sagnita Bhatia, the method developed by her group will be in great demand in developed countries. In addition, Bhatia's research group has already acquired a grant to create a business plan for the commercial implementation of the method and has already begun clinical trials.
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