Electrochemical Assay Validation of Cancer Biomarkers for Clinical Studies

Abstract

The high mortality rate of ovarian cancer is due to the late stage of detection and development of resistance despite high initial response rates to chemotherapy in about 60-70% of patients. Hence, detailed analytical and clinical assays' validation is crucial for successful translation to clinical cancer treatment, control, and prevention. We are a team of multidisciplinary researchers focusing on an electrochemical biosensor method development and evaluation for clinically significant circulating cancer biomarkers in biofluids. Electrochemical approaches offer simplicity (analogous to the personalized glucometer), shorter assay time than traditional biological assays, high analytical sensitivity combined with biological selectivity, high reproducibility (within ±5–10% STDEV among replicates) and ultra-low detection capabilities offered by the appropriate surface designs (e.g., femtomolar and lower), smaller sample (10 µL) and reagent volumes (50 µL per sample), semi-automation (microfluidics or multichannel sample dispenser), label and label-free options, throughput designs, and direct biofluid analysis (with a moderate 2–5 fold sample dilution) for minimally invasive (e.g., serum) and noninvasive analyses (e.g., saliva, urine, sweat, and tears). This presentation will discuss our pyrenyl-nanocarbon-based electrochemical immunosensor measuring cancer protein concentrations in clinical serum solutions.