UCF Researchers Discover Accurate Early Cancer Test that uses $1 worth of Gold Nanoparticles

ORLANDO, Fla. --- A University of Central Florida research team and local startup company are developing a new and improved way to detect cancer early with a screening test that uses a drop of blood, about $1 worth of gold nanoparticles, and produces results in just minutes. Dr. Qun Huo, associate professor in the NanoScience Technology Center at the University of Central Florida and CEO of Nano Discovery, Inc. reported her team’s findings last month in the online edition of ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, a publication of the American Chemical Society for research results demonstrating how newly-discovered materials and interfacial processes can be developed and used for specific applications Dr. Huo said the UCF team’s test could lead the way to a universal screening test for early cancer detection and risk assessment. In two Defense Department studies at the Florida Hospital Cancer Institute, the UCF team focused on prostate cancer, a relatively common disease with well known characteristics. The best Protein-Specific Antigen Test (PAT) for prostate cancer is far from accurate, often leading to unnecessary and expensive biopsies. “Most studies today are attempting to identify tumor-specific antigens and detect antibodies specific to them," Dr. Huo explained. The UCF team discovered that tumor-fighting autoantibodies quickly attach to the surface of molecule-size gold nanoparticles, where they can be detected quickly and unerringly with specialized equipment. While the UCF team’s new test doesn’t identify which type of cancer induces those autoantibodies, Dr. Huo believes the test could become a universal “gold standard” test to tell doctors that cancer is present and point to further tests to find and locate any tumors. That means the earliest possible cancer detection, when treatment costs are lowest, patient stress is the least, and results most effective. A simple, easy, low-cost test to accurately detect cancer at its earliest stage could offer enormous benefits worldwide, Dr. Huo reasons. Nano Discovery, Inc. is a client company of the UCF Business Incubation Program located at Central Florida Research Park in East Orange County.