Microfluidic chip for cancer diagnosis

Researchers of University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada have minusculed and automated an important diagnostic test for cancer onto a microfludic chip the size of a microscope slide for the first time, which opens up the possibility of better, faster cancer treatment and greater accessibility to the test.

The Microfludic chip can perform fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) on a handheld diagnostic device. FISH is a test that detects mutations in chromosomes for a number of different types of cancer. The test involves attaching coloured dyes to chromosomes as a way to visualize and count them as well as to detect cancer-promoting breaks and rejoinings of chromosomes. These abnormalities provide clinically valuable information about disease outcomes and response to therapy.

This new system will allow FISH to be rapidly performed for a fraction of the cost of current analysis methods. FISH test can be done in less than a day, which is different from any other conventional methods for FISH, which can take days to perform.

Currently, FISH is infrequently used in clinical situations. FISH on a chip will allow widespread use of the tests because of its higher speed and lower costs. The rapid detection of chromosomal mutations will significantly increase a physician's ability to tailor treatment strategies to target individual cancers.

The FISH and chip technology is one of several projects the group is developing and commercialising as automated, real-time tests for the detection and monitoring of cancer and other medical conditions. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and Western Economic Diversification Canada provided funding for the research.