Often, cancer is not caught until a tumor has developed and starts to become a problem. This is unfortunate as it is well known that recovery rates are higher when cancer is caught earlier.
Researchers at ETH Zurich in Basel have come up with a possible solution to catch cancer earlier. They have created a synthetic gene network that recognizes the four most common types of cancer—prostate, lung, colon and breast cancer—by detecting elevated levels of calcium in the blood, which occurs during very early stages of tumor development. The system consists of a genetic network, integrated into human body cells, that are inserted into an implant and implanted into the skin. When the calcium levels reach a certain level, a brown mole appears. Results of the study have been published in Science Translational Medicine.
The appearance of the mole occurs long before cancer becomes detectable through conventional diagnosis and will indicate the person should see a doctor for evaluation. Though the lifespan of such an implant is limited to about a year, after which it would need to be deactivated and replaced, the scientists note this would still be a significant cost savings over cancer treatment.
The implant has so far been tested in a mouse model and on pig skin. In both cases, the implant successfully activated only after calcium levels reached a certain threshold.
Human testing of the implant is still a long way off, with the researchers estimating approximately ten years of research and development before the implant could be taken to market. Still, they are hopeful that this “biomedical tattoo” may someday be useful for early detection of cancer and other gradually developing illnesses, such as neurodegenerative diseases and hormonal disorders.
Image: As soon as the calcium level exceeds a particular threshold over a longer period of time, an implant inserted under the skin triggers the production of melanin. This causes a mole to form. (Simulated montage) Image courtesy of: ETH Zurich.