Professor works to simplify cancer detection

UCF associate professor Qun Huo of the NanoScience Technology Center at UCF and Dr. Cheryl Baker of the Orlando chapter of the MD Anderson Cancer Center have been conducting research in the field of cancer biomarker research in order to develop an affordable, over-the-counter cancer detection test.

The new screening procedure, which is first being focused on prostate cancer and then perfected to better suit other types, could make early detection of cancer more accessible and more affordable.

Huo said that detecting the cancer can be more important than actually treating it because the later the presence of cancer has been confirmed, the more invasive, expensive and difficult treatment may be.

Early treatment could be as passive as "active surveillance," merely observing the cancer's condition, perhaps never intervening more than that. Late treatment, such as radical prostatectomy, radiation, hormone therapy or high-intensity ultrasound, is far more aggressive.

Ultimately, Huo said he envisions machines similar to blood pressure machines in pharmacies today. The machines could conduct exams for specific cancers like prostate cancer for $10, multiple cancer examinations for $50 — making available a medical exam which today is unavailable to many individuals.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men in the United States and is the most common type that affects them.  There is no definitive knowledge of what causes prostate cancer but certain factors have been determined to be of substantial significance, including age, race and family history. 

The two existing screening processes are the Prostate-Specific Antigen Test and the Digital Rectal Exam. 

The first test is a blood test that examines the patient's level of the PSA chemical, which is produced by the prostate gland.  The PSA chemical is a biomarker for prostate cancer, meaning it is an indicator of the state of the prostate gland's biological function.   

Increased amounts could indicate anomalous issues with the gland.

The DRE is the more commonly recognized prostate exam, in which a physician examines the rectum and the condition of the prostate, while additionally looking for abnormal growths.  The former works in conjunction with the latter, in that order, but Huo and Baker's research may yield a much more effective tool in the struggle against cancer.

Central Florida Future: How does your technique differ from both the PSA and the DRE?
Qun Huo: Our technique still relies on the foundation of the PSA test, requiring a blood sample, but will improve on its effectiveness.  Our examination will increase the sensitivity to biomarkers, which the PSA already uses, increasing its ‘cancer finding' abilities.  Additionally, the PSA has been useful in detecting cancer early in patients, but suffers from a history of high false positive/negative ratio.

CFF: How much more accurate could your test be than the existing PSA test?
Huo: The PSA test has a recorded 75 percent false positive or negative result history.  This, of course, is very high.  We're working to, hopefully, be as high as 95 percent accurate.

CFF: According to the Centers for Disease Control, the PSA is susceptible to false positives due to sexual activity, which increases an individual's PSA count tremendously.  Will your exam be equally susceptible to those factors?
Huo: Yes, the PSA test can be sensitive to that and doctors usually recommend refraining from such activity prior to the exam.  We are still unaware if our test could be equally affected.

CFF: Has your research encountered any issues which may impede development of the product?
Huo: Like any other research program, we are here, facing issues like collecting data, developing and improving the procedure and then testing the technology, but ultimately, we have been fortunate enough to not encounter significant obstacles in our work.  Working with Dr. Baker from the Anderson Cancer Center has significantly assisted that.

CFF: How has working with Dr. Baker and the MD Anderson Cancer Center facilitated your research?
Huo: It has been a great collaborative research project.  Her presence as a component of the team has made doctoral experience accessible to us, which has been a crucial advantage.

CFF: How much longer before the product could be implemented both clinically and over the counter?
Huo: We are currently in the process of conducting our clinical trials and are working in conjunction with an undisclosed engineering firm, which will design our technique's delivery mechanism – the machine which could be placed in pharmacies.  As little as three years could lie between now and that reality.