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Home test that detects skin cancer

2025-08-02 09:53:00, Shëndeti CNA

One day, you can place a small piece on your skin to find out if the spot you've spotted is cancerous or not.

This is the innovation of a technology being developed by researchers at the University of Michigan.

The small silicone patch is embedded with microneedles that test the lesion for the presence of biomarker compounds that can signal cancer.

The device, called ExoPatch, has already proven successful in distinguishing melanoma from healthy tissue in mice.

If successful, this could revolutionize skin cancer detection, said the study's co-lead author, Sunitha Nagrath, a professor of chemical engineering at the university.

The new patch tests what are known as exosomes, microscopic packages released by cells (including skin cells) that contain pieces of genetic material that may be linked to cancer.

Each ExoPatch contains a gel that attracts skin cell exosomes to the microneedles in the patch. After the patch is removed, it is placed in an acid that allows the exosomes to be released into a solution.

Similar to how at-home COVID tests work, a test strip dipped in the solution will reveal two lines if signs of melanoma are present, or just one line if they are not. No blood is required, the research team noted.

"Star-shaped needles make the piercing easier and less painful, but they are so small that they only go through the top layer of skin, the epidermis, and don't draw blood," Nagrath said.

The studies were conducted on mice — some that did not have cancer and some that were injected with a fragment of a human melanoma tumor.

The result: The Exopatch could effectively tell which mouse skin was cancerous versus non-cancerous, with a 3.5 times darker line forming upon contact with melanoma-laden samples.

"This is the first patch designed to capture disease-specific exomes from the fluid under the skin. The potential applications are vast," Nagrath said.

A pilot study in humans is planned, which will be followed by clinical trials. The results of research conducted in animals may differ in humans.

The research is funded by the US National Institutes of Health and the research team has applied for patent protection./ CNA