Abstract 1938: Implantable nanosensor for non-invasive ovarian cancer biomarker detection with wearable interface

Abstract

Abstract Patients with high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSC) exhibit poor 5-year survival rates, which may be significantly improved by early-stage detection. The US FDA-approved biomarkers for HGSC—CA-125 and HE4—do not generally appear at detectable levels in the serum until advanced stages of the disease. An implantable device placed proximal to disease sites, such as in or near the fallopian tube, ovary, uterine cavity, or peritoneal cavity, may constitute a feasible strategy to improve detection of HGSC. Furthermore, a sensor implant under the skin may allow real-time measurements after diagnosis, to monitor treatment for example, via interrogation using a wearable device. We engineered a prototype optical sensor composed of an antibody-functionalized carbon nanotube complex, which responds quantitatively to HE4 via modulation of the nanotube optical bandgap. The complexes measured HE4 with nanomolar sensitivity to differentiate disease from benign patient biofluids. The sensors were implanted into four models of ovarian cancer, within a semipermeable membrane, enabling the optical detection of HE4 within the live animals. We thus present the first in vivo optical nanosensor capable of noninvasive cancer biomarker detection in orthotopic models of disease. This technology may potentially be implanted locally in the uterine cavity, for point-of-care measurement, or under the skin, to then interface with a wearable device. Citation Format: Daniel A. Heller, Ryan M. Williams, Douglas A. Levine. Implantable nanosensor for non-invasive ovarian cancer biomarker detection with wearable interface [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1938.