Prostate Cancer Screening: Sensor Chip Can Help Detect Prostate Cancer

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One of the leading cancer-related deaths among men is prostate cancer. But ways to detect them, like using antibodies, are sometimes not accurate enough. Fortunately, a new study has discovered that using a sensor chip can help in the detection of prostate cancer.

According to Medical News Daily, a research done by the University of Birmingham in the UK and has been published in the journal Chemical Science, has discovered that a new technology—the use of sensor chip—can reduce the error rate in the diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Lead author Professor Paula Mendes explained that the sensor chip works better than traditional methods. First, it can make accurate reading and lessen false-positive outcome. Second, it can be reproduced and stored easily, and lastly, it can be recycled without compromising previously recorded data.

The Health Site describes the sensor chip as a synthetic receptor on a 2D surface that helps identify and target specific glycoprotein molecules, which can be differentiated by their modified carbohydrate chain make-up.

iSchool Guide adds that currently, prostate cancer is diagnosed through antibodies, which are fragile in sensitive environments and can be quite expensive.

This is why the research team created a sensor chip with receptors that can sense and target biomakers. The biomakers are in the form of glycoproteins with detectable factors that differentiate healthy patients from those who aren't.

After the removal of the glycoprotein, it will leave a mark that will be used as a recognition factor for the sensor chip.

Professor Mendes believe that with the new design of the sensor chip, doctors can now get more accurate results in diagnosing a patient with prostate cancer.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) states that based on statistics, prostate cancer has caused death to 1 out of 38 men or an estimated 27,540 prostate cancer deaths, making it the second most noted cause of cancer mortality.  It also revealed that with the prevalence of the disease, an estimated 220,800 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed this 2015.

ACS has also stated that a five-year survival rate can occur, which means patients who are diagnosed with prostate cancer who can live up to at least five years are more than likely to survive.