New Device Makes Oral Cancer Detection Faster, Less Painful
New Device Makes Oral Cancer Detection Faster, Less PainfulA new device designed to detect oral cancer by gently contacting a lesion on the tongue or cheek has demonstrated success rates comparable to more invasive techniques, according to a study published
New Device Makes Oral Cancer Detection Faster, Less Painful
A new device designed to detect oral cancer by gently contacting a lesion on the tongue or cheek has demonstrated success rates comparable to more invasive techniques, according to a study published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research by researchers at Rice University, Houston; the University of Texas Health Science Centers at Houston and San Antonio; and the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston.
The study used a newly designed nano-bio-chip, a tiny device that can gather and examine biomarkers for symptoms of disease such as cardiovascular disease and HIV, to differentiate precancerous oral lesions from benign oral lesions. The preliminary study found the chip to be as effective in finding which lesions were precancerous or malignant as the current commonly used tests.
The researchers hope to be able to provide patients with a noninvasive, effective, and quick way to determine whether an oral lesion is dangerous instead of the current gold standard of biopsy, which is invasive and takes several days to provide results.
The new nano-bio-chip will be tested in a larger study of 500 patients in Houston, San Antonio, and London. If the results are positive, the researchers hope to apply for Food and Drug Administration approval within two to four years.
Source: Rice University
