Reviewed by Lexie CornerMar 14 2025
Researchers at the University of Texas at El Paso are developing a less invasive portable device that uses blood samples to detect colorectal cancer, as traditional colonoscopy procedures can be expensive.
Ruma Paul, a Doctoral Student in Chemistry at UTEP, works in the lab on a device that can more easily and safely detect colorectal cancer. Image Credit: The University of Texas at El Paso
A colonoscopy is an unpleasant and expensive procedure used to screen for colorectal cancer, and it can also cause medical complications.
According to the National Cancer Institute, colon cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, making screening essential.
Other screening methods, such as stool-based tests, may sometimes be inaccurate and yield false positives.
Colorectal cancer is highly treatable when detected early, as noted by study co-author Ruma Paul, a UTEP doctoral student in chemistry.
The earlier the detection, the greater the hope for saving lives. Blood-based tests are much easier on patients while also being able to precisely detect the early signs of colorectal cancer. Our research could one day make simpler early detection possible.
Ruma Paul, Study Co-Author, University of Texas at El Paso
The device detects the protein CCSP-2.
According to Paul, the presence of this protein is a strong indicator of cancer, as it is 78 times more abundant in colon cancer cells than in healthy colon cells. The team also notes that CCSP-2 can be detected in blood, making it an ideal biomarker (a measurable biological indicator that can signal the presence of specific diseases).
Ruma's doctoral research opens the possibility of developing a simple point-of-care portable device for colorectal cancer detection.
Carlos Cabrera, Study Corresponding Author and Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at El Paso
Paul developed the electrochemical immunosensor, a device for detecting CCSP-2. She explained that the device could be used in a doctor's office or at home due to its potential for mass production and compact size.
However, she added that the device would need to be patented and undergo clinical trials, a process that could take several years before it is available for use.
Sourav Roy, Ph.D., another co-author and Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at UTEP, noted that this study is the first in a series of investigations aimed at identifying suitable biomarkers for the portable device.
Roy and his team are working on discovering new proteins to test on the device. These proteins are overexpressed in colon cancer tissues at various stages.
Our goal is to come up with inexpensive, accessible, non-invasive, and reliable strategies for early detection of colorectal cancers using computational and molecular biology.
Sourav Roy, Study Co-Author and Associate Professor, University of Texas at El Paso
The National Science Foundation’s Partnership for Innovation Grant supported the study.