By Andrea Hargraves 
Scientists have created a non-invasive test that uses the latest “liquid biopsy” technology to detect brain tumors at an early stage.
For the first time in the world, scientists at Nagoya University in Japan have developed a non-invasive method that can detect brain cancer through a simple urine test. Perhaps one day the traditional and more painful tissue biopsy will become irrelevant and, most importantly, will allow us to detect cancer in the early stages. New Atlas.
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Usually, to definitively diagnose a brain tumor, doctors need to perform a tissue biopsy, a procedure in which a small piece of tissue is surgically removed. However, this approach is inconvenient and inconvenient. As we have seen, this method of diagnosis without resorting to surgery may become a reality in the near future.
A team from Nagoya University led by Dr. Takao Yasua single phase methodology A “liquid biopsy” that checks urine for DNA mutations that are an indicator of a common type of brain tumor known as glioma. Gliomas arise in the glial cells of the brain, which support and protect neurons, the nerve cells in our brain. Gliomas make up about a third of all brain tumors.
A special type of DNA called extracellular DNA (cfDNA) has recently shown great potential as a reliable biomarker for cancer diagnosis. Cancer cells produce cfDNA when they multiply and overtake healthy cells, causing them to die. Because cancer cells multiply faster than healthy cells, the body’s white blood cells have a hard time removing them, resulting in the formation of RNA in the urine.
However, efficient extraction of cfDNA from urine is very challenging due to its fragmented nature and low concentration. To solve this problem, the scientists applied an innovative “pick and release” method using zinc oxide (ZNOC) nanowires.
First, the nanowires “capture” the RNA from the urine sample. To do this, they use the ability of NPOC to attach to water molecules, which then form bonds with cfDNA. During the ‘release’ step, the attached cfDNA is washed and examined. The team was looking for a specific gene mutation called IDH1, which is common in gliomas.
After testing this method on urine samples from 12 brain cancer patients, they found that their nanowire device could efficiently isolate cfDNA and detect mutations in IDH1. They achieved this by using a very small amount of urine.
the doctor. Yasui stated: “We were able to isolate CFDNA from urine, which is very difficult using conventional methods. We detected an IDH1 mutation characteristic of gliomas. This is the first report of an IDH1 mutation found in a urine sample as small as 0.5 mL.”
The researchers believe they can provide early cancer detection with their method, and hope they can be adapted to test other types of tumors. The new capture and release method is a major advance in the field of non-invasive cancer diagnosis. It bridges the gap between nanotechnology, medicine, chemistry and biology, and has the potential to revolutionize the early detection of cancer.
previously to focus He wrote about combining radiotherapy with viruses in a novel approach to treating brain cancer. A new study reveals a breakthrough in a combination approach to combating this deadly disease
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