Detection of ErbB2 (biomarker for breast cancer), directly in cancer cells
To differentiate cell lines that overexpress ErbB2.
The detection of very low levels of ErbB2 in serum and in cell lysates, together with the discrimination of cells with ErbB2 overexpression.
Breast cancer is the most frequent amongst women, representing 23% of the total number of cases and 14% of cancer-related deaths. In this context, the Epidermal Growth Receptor Factor 2 (ErbB2) is a key biomarker for the prognosis and subsequent treatment of breast cancer.
A biosensor was developed, based on the use of magnetic particles, for the detection of ErbB2.
The detection was undertaken in three different media: ErbB2 circulating in serum, in cell lysates, and directly on the cell surface. In this last case, they have managed to discriminate between cells that overexpress this protein (SKBR3) and those that do not (MCF7 and MDA-MB-436), trapping them by means of functionalised magnetic particles with specific antibodies, for their subsequent quantification through amperometric means.
This enables the ongoing evaluation of the state of the patient, both in serum samples and in tumour tissue, employing a highly sensitive technique which is, at the same time, low cost, simple and which can be automated, as a solution to current demand in the diagnosis sector.