Early detection of breast cancer can improve patient outcomes by catching the disease when it’s more treatable. However, about 1 in 4 American women aged 50 to 74 have not had a mammogram in the past two years. This can be due to the hassle it entails, but there are serious barriers, as well, including social isolation, lack of reliable transportation, and the cost of health care. A new device may help address these issues by making screening more accessible.

Researchers at University of Florida Health recently tested the effectiveness of a biosensor that uses glucose test strips to test for breast cancer biomarkers in saliva. To use it, saliva is collected in a sterile cup, into which a test strip is dipped for three seconds. The strip is then inserted into the device and analyzed for the presence of breast cancer biomarkers human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 – or HER2 – and cancer antigen 15-3. The device is equipped with a Bluetooth Low-Energy module, which allows for continuous remote monitoring of biomarker levels. It’s conveniently handheld, as well.

Dr. Josephine Esquivel-Upshaw, senior author and professor in the UF College of Dentistry, says, “We were able to shrink the sensor platform so it fits in the palm of your hand, which was our whole drive: to make this accessible and portable for patients to be able to use. The portable design means it’s a promising alternative for breast cancer detection and monitoring, particularly in rural communities.”

How effective is it, though? According to the team’s findings, published in the journal Biosensors and supported through funding from the National Institutes of Health, it’s pretty effective. In 29 saliva samples, the device correctly identified patients with breast cancer 100% of the time and those without breast cancer 86% of the time, which the researchers say means it minimized false negatives.

It also correctly distinguished between in situ breast cancer patients, invasive breast cancer patients, and disease-free participants.

The researchers say if the device continues to be proven effective, it could reduce the number of hospital visits, make screening more accessible to those with barriers, and make things more convenient for high-risk people who need more frequent screening.

Dr. Coy Heldermon, study co-author and breast oncologist at UF Health, says, “It’s very exciting because this device could improve access to breast cancer screening and significantly reduce health care costs.  If all holds true, it would be a game-changer.”

Going forward, they hope to add more biomarkers to allow for more diagnostic accuracy and possibly use it for other diseases in the future. To read the whole study, click here. If you’d like to contribute to other life-changing breast cancer research, click here!