Paper-based biosensors for cancer diagnostics

The development of novel cancer treatments has increased survival chances for the patient, while also dramatically increasing the cost per patient. To minimize the economic burden on close-to-collapse healthcare systems, a triage campaign able to identify a cancer-positive patient early is paramount. Carrying out a worldwide diagnostic campaign cannot be separated from the use of point-of-care sensors that, while being low cost and environmentally sustainable, support excellent analytical properties and ease of use. In this context, paper-based sensors appear as promising diagnostic tools to carry out such endeavors. Recent advancements in the field of paper-based sensors demonstrate how such technologies can now support the ultra-sensitive detection of multiple biomarkers, a conditio sine qua non for the precise diagnosis of cancer. The implementation of a wide diagnostic campaign to diagnose cancer early could save millions of lives and billions of dollars every year. Unfortunately, cancer diagnosis is extremely complicated and current approaches rely on the use of expensive equipment and specialized personnel, which hamper their deployment in low- and middle-income settings. Here, we analyze the technical challenges that must be overcome to achieve precise cancer diagnostics and we describe how such hurdles have limited the development of point-of-care (PoC) sensors. Then, we explain why we believe recent achievements in the field of paper-based sensors could allow their use as widely available sensing platforms for cancer detection. Finally, we present our vision of what should be done in order to make paper-based sensors widely used diagnostics platforms for cancer. The implementation of a wide diagnostic campaign to diagnose cancer early could save millions of lives and billions of dollars every year. Unfortunately, cancer diagnosis is extremely complicated and current approaches rely on the use of expensive equipment and specialized personnel, which hamper their deployment in low- and middle-income settings. Here, we analyze the technical challenges that must be overcome to achieve precise cancer diagnostics and we describe how such hurdles have limited the development of point-of-care (PoC) sensors. Then, we explain why we believe recent achievements in the field of paper-based sensors could allow their use as widely available sensing platforms for cancer detection. Finally, we present our vision of what should be done in order to make paper-based sensors widely used diagnostics platforms for cancer.