A Band-Aid Instead of a Biopsy: New Technology Helps Detect Melanoma at Home
Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a new test for detecting melanoma that can be performed at home—no blood, pain, or biopsy required. ExoPatch is a silicone patch with microscopic needles that captures tumor markers directly from the skin. The technology successfully identified melanoma in mice and has the potential to revolutionize early skin cancer diagnosis.
Imagine a skin cancer test that works like an at-home COVID test—a patch, 15 minutes, and a test strip with a result. That's ExoPatch, a new technology developed by scientists at the University of Michigan that could eventually replace biopsies in melanoma diagnosis.
The patch is equipped with microscopic star-shaped needles that penetrate only the epidermis, without damaging the blood vessels.
"The needles are just 0.6 mm long and less than 100 nanometers wide at the tip. This makes them virtually painless," says Professor Sunitha Nagrath, co-author of the study.
The needles are coated with a special gel containing the protein Annexin V, which attracts and retains exosomes—tiny informational "packages" secreted by cells. Historically considered cellular debris, these are now known to contain DNA and RNA and can warn other tissues of impending cancer.
After removing the patch, it is immersed in acid, which dissolves the gel and releases the exosomes into the solution. A test strip is then dipped in – one line indicates the absence of melanoma, two lines indicate its presence.
So far, ExoPatch has been tested on skin samples from pigs and mice with a human melanoma tumor fragment. The results? Over 11 times more exosome protein was recovered from the cancerous tissue than from healthy tissue. The line on the test strip was 3.5 times darker for the melanoma sample.
"This is the first patch that captures disease-specific exosomes directly from beneath the skin. This technology could have many more applications," says Professor Nagrath.
The next step is pilot studies with human participants. The team hopes that ExoPatch can be adapted in the future to detect exosomes in other types of cancer, including lung, breast, colon, prostate, and brain.
"People with fair skin and numerous moles need to have a biopsy every six months to check if the lesions are malignant. This test can be a game-changer. The result obtained at home can be a quick signal to see a dermatologist," emphasizes Professor Nagrath.
If the test passes clinical trials, melanoma could be detected without pain, blood, or fear – in the comfort of your home.
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