| - | The idea of accurately detecting lung cancer in its early stages seems interminably difficult, but once you connect disease to genetically modified bacteria and biological engineering through manipulation of bacteria like E. Coli, anything is possible. Our idea is to create a simple, noninvasive way to detect lung cancer that utilizes the world around us - live organisms that could contribute to our diagnosis of the disease. Biotechnology has been on the rise for quite some time now, but its application to real world issues like cancer is only just emerging. Our concept is quite simple on the surface - produce an E. Coli bacterium that has the genes to detect the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are released in a lung cancer patient's breath. Unlike humans, bacteria organize their genes in circular sequences called plasmids. By inserting our desired genes and their activating operons in the plasmid, we can make the E. Coli cell express proteins that it would not have expressed prior to genetic change. Depending on the gene, the proteins would then either be translated from mRNA created because of the signal transduction chain initiated by the VOC, or directly react with the VOCs that exist in higher concentrations in people who have lung cancer. Thus, when a person breaths on E. Coli cells, certain genes will be activated, along with GFP, which is sequence of the plasmid that codes for a protein that makes the bacteria glow. So, if the bacteria glow, then we know that we have a positive test for lung cancer.
| + | Early detection of lung cancer is vital to increasing the success rate of current treatment options. Current diagnostic methods, including chest radiographs and CT scanning, are expensive, unreliable, and potentially dangerous. Our proposed alternative was inspired by observing canines, and their ability to detect noncommunicable diseases quickly and accurately without harm to the patient. According to leading research Rainer Ehmann’s study on canine olfactory screening of lung cancer, “[Lung cancer] was identified with a sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 72%” (3). Training dogs for this purpose, however, is expensive and time-consuming. |
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