Oral Cancer Screening Tool Using Brush

USA: Researchers from the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) have introduced a novel test for the early detection of oral squamous cell carcinoma, the ninth most prevalent cancer globally. Led by Guy Adami and Dr. Joel Schwartz from the UIC College of Dentistry, the diagnostic kit utilizes a common dental tool—the brush—to collect cells from potentially cancerous lesions inside the mouth.

Brush-Based Genetic Screening

The diagnostic kit employs a small brush to collect cells, providing a non-invasive and patient-friendly alternative to the current standard of surgical biopsies. Surgical biopsies involve an extra referral step and may lead to delays in diagnosis, especially if patients fail to follow up. Adami emphasizes the focus on early-stage cancers, stating, “We’ve tried to keep our focus mainly on early Stage 1 and 2 cancers, so it actually works with the cancers that you want to detect.”

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The detection system relies on analyzing genetic signals, specifically microRNA, which regulate gene expression. The researchers identified an expression signature of 40 microRNA sequences that can distinguish between tumor and normal tissue with over 90% accuracy. Importantly, the test works with epithelial cells, the outermost layer of cells in the patient’s mouth, making collection quick and easy.

Advantages Over Traditional Biopsies

The brush biopsy method offers several advantages over traditional surgical biopsies. It provides site-specific targeting of tissue, making subsequent analysis less complicated. Unlike surgical biopsies that may collect a mixture of cell types and risk spreading cancerous cells, the brush method focuses on a single site. Schwartz notes, “If you compare what we do, which is site-specific targeting of tissue, to the other tests out there, they don’t have a targeting of where the tumors actually are.”

The researchers hope that the new test will facilitate easier screening, particularly in populations that may not receive regular dental care or have a higher incidence of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Adami and Schwartz envision the tool’s use in nonclinical settings, enabling earlier cancer detection in high-risk populations, such as Black men who exhibit a lower survival rate with the disease compared to other demographic groups.

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Future Applications and Commercialization

The technology may extend to diagnosing other oral diseases with unique microRNA signatures. To commercialize the test, Adami and Schwartz established Arphion Diagnostics, working with the UIC Office of Technology Management. The researchers seek business partners to facilitate the test’s integration into dental clinics, emphasizing the potential impact on various oral diseases characterized by microRNAs.

In addition to Adami and Schwartz, oral and maxillofacial surgeon Dr. Antonia Kolokythas played a crucial role in optimizing the methodology and collecting brush samples. The research received support from grants by the National Science Foundation and the National Cancer Institute, with Adami and Schwartz being members of the University of Illinois Cancer Center.