A team of researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine has developed a noninvasive test to diagnose oral cancer early and cost-effectively. The results of the study, published in Journal Cell Reports Medicinerely on an innovative scoring system that examines the expression of two proteins, hBD-3 and hBD-2, in cells from suspected lesions.
The discovery that the hBD-3 protein is overexpressed in the early stages of oral cancer while hBD-2 remains low or unchanged led to the development of the Beta Defensin Index (BDI). This index, based on the ratio of the two proteins, allows precise differentiation between malignant and benign lesions.
The researchers successfully validated the BDI at different locations and under different protocols. What’s amazing is that the test can reduce biopsies in primary care clinics by a staggering 95%. Lead researcher Aaron Weinberg emphasizes the importance of this method for developing countries where oral cancer is common and pathology services are limited.
The positive results have already led to a patented laboratory-based method, and researchers are now working on a point-of-care (POC) device that enables protein analysis directly in clinics.
Source: Case Western Reserve University