Early diagnosis of cancer can save lives and increase positive outcomes for cancer patients. Academic research has identified biomarkers associated with various types of cancer, including RNA biomarkers. Using a biological assay, it is possible to detect biomarkers in a diagnostic approach. Our goal for this project was to develop a device using Cas13 to detect a strand of RNA that is a promising biomarker for cancer.
The survival rate for cancer decreases exponentially the later it is detected because of its tendency to metastasize. It is estimated that 297,790 new cases of breast cancer and 43,000 deaths in women will be documented in 2023. This is roughly a 1 in 7 ratio, the majority of which is due to late detection. With regular screening and early detection thanks to mammograms, the American Cancer Society asserts that the 5-year survival rate of cancer is 99%. Despite this, tens of thousands of people lose their lives to cancer annually.
Aversion to the costs and discomfort associated with current methods for breast cancer detection leads to people being less likely to proactively seek out testing. The increasing cost of healthcare in the United States also leads to people being less likely to seek out treatment. Breast cancer shares a majority of its symptoms with other illnesses because of how common symptoms such as swelling, irritation, redness, change in size, pain in the breast area, and flaky skin are with hormonal changes such as periods. Our project aims to create a detection method that is easy to use and comfortable for women who are uncomfortable with current detection methods by detecting microRNA, specifically, miR-424-5p, which has been identified as a biomarker associated with breast cancer and can be found in urine.
Our team will utilize an invitro-system to create a test akin to a pregnancy test which can be obtained easily and operated safely. In our system, the Cas13 enzyme and associated crRNA will be used to detect miR-424, and then a signal will be generated using the cleavage activity of Cas13 to cut a fluorescent reporter. By advancing this technology, we can allow for cheaper and more comfortable detection methods for cancers such as breast cancer. The hope is that we can expand in this area of diagnostics and make bioassays for more diseases.