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A Point-of-Care High-throughput Biosensing System of Home Monitoring for CRC Postoperative Recurrence by Detecting
IEEE Transactions on Bio-Medical Engineering
|January 16, 2026
Summary
A new portable biosensing system enables early detection of colorectal cancer (CRC) recurrence using biomarkers like carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and microRNA-21 (miR-21). This technology offers improved accuracy for at-home monitoring, aiding timely diagnosis and treatment.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Oncology
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Postoperative recurrence affects a significant portion of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, leading to delayed diagnosis.
- Current diagnostic methods, including electrochemical biosensors, struggle with accuracy, cross-reactivity, and lack of long-term home monitoring capabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a portable point-of-care testing (POCT) biosensing system for at-home detection of CRC recurrence.
- To simultaneously monitor key biomarkers: carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), microRNA-21 (miR-21), and interleukin-6 (IL-6).
Main Methods:
- Integration of a 256-channel microelectrode array (MEA) sensor into a portable POCT system.
- Development of highly sensitive electrochemical detection for CEA, miR-21, and IL-6.
- Clinical validation comparing the POCT system with established assays like ELISA and RT-qPCR.
Main Results:
- The MEA sensor demonstrated ultra-high sensitivity for CEA, miR-21, and IL-6 detection.
- The developed system achieved excellent concordance with conventional diagnostic methods, showing high correlation coefficients (0.9809 for CEA, 0.9998 for miR-21, 0.9950 for IL-6).
Conclusions:
- The portable POCT biosensing system provides a sensitive and accurate platform for at-home monitoring of CRC recurrence biomarkers.
- This technology has the potential to improve early diagnosis and long-term management of CRC patients, addressing limitations of current approaches.
