M. Sharon Stack
Research being carried out at the University of Notre Dame and its affiliated (HCRI) may lead to the development of a rapid, cost-effective means of screening for oral cancers and the human papillomavirus.
, Ann F. Dunne and Elizabeth Riley Director of the HCRI and professor of chemistry and biochemistry, points out that oral cancers are a significant global health problem. Although tobacco and alcohol awareness have helped decrease the overall incidence of oral cancers, HPV-positive cancers, especially oropharyngeal cancers, have risen significantly.
Stack and , Bayer Professor of Engineering and director of Notre Dame鈥檚 , are attempting to prescreen for oral cancer and HPV by examining the micro-RNAs of tumor cells. They are working on developing a microfluidic sensor to help detect the presence of tumor cells.
Hsueh-Chia Chang
The researchers point out that to be effective, the screening tests need to be done regularly, for example at a dentist鈥檚 office during teeth cleaning. Rinsing with a mouthwash at a dentist鈥檚 office can produce up to 10,000 cells that can be tested. In order to be feasible for a dentist鈥檚 office, the screening process must be low-cost, rapid and patient-friendly.
Chang鈥檚 research group has developed a microfluidic membrane sensor that can be used for this type of rapid screening. Although he points out that his sensor is not as accurate as optical sensors such as real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), it is much cheaper ($1 versus $45 per test) and is rapid and can be used by personnel in a dentist鈥檚 office. It also will allow the quantification of a panel of micro-RNAs.
The researchers believe that such a rapid and low-cost device would help to better reach high-risk patients prior to development of last-stage disease.
Contacts: Sharon Stack, 574-631-2518, Sharon.Stack.11@nd.edu; Chia Chang, 574-631-5697, Hsueh-Chia.Chang.2@nd.edu