A Review of the Nucleic Acid-Based Lateral Flow Assay for Detection of Breast Cancer from Circulating Biomarkers at a Point-of-Care in Low Income Countries

Abstract

The current levels of breast cancer in African women have contributed to the high mortality rates among them. In South Africa, the incidence of breast cancer is also on the rise due to changes in behavioural and biological risk factors. Such low survival rates can be attributed to the late diagnosis of the disease due to a lack of access and the high costs of the current diagnostic tools. Breast cancer is asymptomatic at early stages, which is the best time to detect it and intervene to prevent high mortality rates. Proper risk assessment, campaigns, and access to adequate healthcare need to be prioritised among patients at an early stage. Early detection of breast cancer can significantly improve the survival rate of breast cancer patients, since therapeutic strategies are more effective at this stage. Early detection of breast cancer can be achieved by developing devices that are simple, sensitive, low-cost, and employed at point-of-care (POC), especially in low-income countries (LICs). Nucleic-acid-based lateral flow assays (NABLFAs) that combine molecular detection with the immunochemical visualisation principles, have recently emerged as tools for disease diagnosis, even for low biomarker concentrations. Detection of circulating genetic biomarkers in non-invasively collected biological fluids with NABLFAs presents an appealing and suitable method for POC testing in resource-limited regions and/or LICs. Diagnosis of breast cancer at an early stage will improve the survival rates of the patients. This review covers the analysis of the current state of NABLFA technologies used in developing countries to reduce the scourge of breast cancer.

O → S Acyl Transfer Directing Human Sera Glycoprotein Immobilization for Breast Cancer Diagnosis

“…To deepen the application in the study of glycoprotein, this BASS-directed strategy is further considered as an on-chip platform for glycoprotein–protein analysis. Protein microarray is an emerging powerful tool for systematically screening protein–protein or protein–ligand interactions. − Its high throughput can considerably accelerate the data acquisition of clinical samples and, therefore, always be considered a next-phase diagnosis. Because of the critical role of glycoprotein in biomolecular recognition, the development of glycoprotein microarray is in high demand but limitedly addressed. ,, Here, a BASS-functionalized microarray is proposed to directly recognize and covalently immobilize the glycoproteins of interest onto the chip surface.…”

Biomarker Detection in Early Diagnosis of Cancer: Recent Achievements in Point-of-Care Devices Based on Paper Microfluidics

“…have evolved into direct PCR-based tools (lung cancer rapid diagnostic test by Lepu Medical Technology, cancer rapid diagnostic test by SPACEGEN, etc.) and nucleic acid-based LFAs (NABLFAs), which combine molecular detection and the principles of immunochemical visualization [ 20 , 21 ]. The same principles as those behind LFAs are used to develop NABLFAs, but rather than using LFAs as test strips, the analysis of target molecules is based on hapten binding and amplification.…”

“…In comparison to conventional PCR techniques, developing NABLFAs for use in basic research and clinical applications has become quite attractive because they take less time to complete and provide a simpler analysis. Moreover, they can perform colorimetric detection of PCR products without the use of any additional tools or trained personnel [ 20 ]. When static phase-based LFAs are scrutinized, incorporating these systems into microfluidic systems will result in more accurate measurements with smaller volumes due to some constraints, such as the use of additional chemicals, false positives, or storage stability.…”

Magnetic Nanoparticle-Based Electrochemical Sensing Platform Using Ferrocene-Labelled Peptide Nucleic Acid for the Early Diagnosis of Colorectal Cancer

“…The well-known genetic biomarkers associated with CRC are V-Ki-ras2 Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene (KRAS), B-type Raf kinase (BRAF), adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3K), phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN), and TP53 protein [ 21 ]. In addition, epigenetic biomarkers have also been discussed for many years [ 22 , 23 ]. One of the most popular and studied issues is DNA methylation.…”