The cancer Kaposi sarcoma is especially prevalent in countries suffering from AIDS, countries with very little infrastructure, and countries where citizens have limited access to healthcare. Although Kaposi sarcoma can be deadly, it can be treated if caught early.
However, after waiting in clinics for long times far from their homes, many people who are tested never return to learn the results of their tests and don’t find out about their cancer until it is too late.
Since the early 90’s, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) has been used regularly for cancer detection to amplify very small samples of DNA so that scientists could run genetic tests, match DNA samples, and identify bacteria or viruses.
However, this procedure requires maintaining cycles of specific temperatures and is usually carried out in a laboratory using expensive equipment. To remedy the situation, David Erickson, PhD and his research team at Cornell received funding from NIH’s National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) to create a PCR device to use at the point-of-care that could diagnose cancers in less than 30 minutes even in the most rural settings.
The portable diagnostic device called KS-Detect uses a lens to create heat and the DNA sample is then placed underneath and removed to increase or decrease the temperature as needed to enable the PCR process.
The technician is able to use a smartphone to take a picture of the sample after it has been treated with a special UV sensitive dye. A smartphone app than is able to analyze and display the results. The KS-Detect enables technicians to give patients their results on the same day and recommend treatment if necessary.
Taking PCR out of the lab and using a device that can be held in the doctor’s hand and taken directly to the patient is the kind of point-of-care device that could transform testing for patients that may have specific types of cancer, not only in rural areas but in doctor’s offices. This technology has the potential to be able to be modified to test for other diseases such as tuberculosis.