New Test to Detect the Weakest Signals Before Tumors Appear on X-rays

اBlood Test 

Revolutionary Technology for Early Cancer Detection... With a Single Drop of Blood

In a scientific breakthrough that could change the way cancer is diagnosed, researchers have developed a highly sensitive light sensor capable of detecting minute amounts of cancer-related biomarkers in the blood, even before tumors appear on X-ray images.

The new technology, the results of which were published in the scientific journal Optica, combines CRISPR gene-editing technology with DNA nanostructures and quantum particles to produce a clear light signal even in the presence of a very limited number of molecules.

In the early stages of cancer, biomarkers—such as fragments of DNA or RNA—are present in minute concentrations in the blood. Current tests often require complex chemical amplification processes to increase the signal, adding time and cost and reducing accuracy.

The new system relies on an optical phenomenon known as second harmonic generation, where incident light is transformed into light of a different wavelength, allowing for the detection of very subtle changes with extremely low background noise.

The researchers constructed tiny pyramid-shaped nanostructures of DNA that act as a precise platform for attaching quantum particles to the surface of a semiconductor material. When the target biomarker is present, the CRISPR-Cas system intervenes to recognize it and cut the DNA strands that hold the particles in place, resulting in a distinct change in the light signal that can be precisely measured.

By testing the technique on a lung cancer-associated biomarker known as miR-21, the team was able to detect it in real serum samples from patients, even at very low levels, suggesting its potential use in early blood tests.

Blood Test: Towards a Portable Test?

The researchers believe this platform is programmable, meaning it can be adapted to detect other biomarkers, whether for neurological diseases like Alzheimer's, or for viral and bacterial infections.

The next step, according to the team, is to miniaturize the optical system into a portable device that can be used in clinics or even remote areas. This could pave the way for routine blood tests to detect cancer before it becomes visible on CT scans.

Although the technology is still in its research phase, its ability to capture even the faintest signals from a single drop of blood makes it one of the most promising early diagnostic tools in the race to detect cancer before it has a chance to spread.