Stochastic microsensors based on modified graphene for pattern recognition of maspin in biological samples

Minimally Invasive and Fast Diagnosis of Gastric Cancer Based on Maspin Levels in Different Biological Samples

(1) Background: Human SERPINB5, commonly known as maspin, has diverse functions as a tumor suppressor. Maspin has a novel role in cell cycle control, and common variants were discovered to be associated with gastric cancer (GC). Maspin was proven to also affect the EMT and angiogenesis of gastric cancer cells via the ITGB1/FAK pathway. Information about the maspin concentrations correlated with different pathological features of the patients may facilitate the fast diagnosis and personalized treatment of patients. The novelty of this study is given by the correlations established for the maspin levels in different biological features and clinicopathological features. These correlations can be extremely useful for surgeons and oncologists. (2) Patients and methods: Patients with clinical and pathological features, given the small number of samples available for this study, were selected from the database of the project GRAPHSENSGASTROINTES, and used in accordance with the Ethics Committee approval nr. 32,647/2018 awarded by the County Emergency Hospital from Targu-Mures. Stochastic microsensors were used as new screening tools for the determination of the concentration of maspin in four types of samples: tumoral tissues, blood, saliva and urine. (3) Results: The results obtained using the stochastic sensors were correlated with those tabulated in the clinical and pathological database. A series of assumptions regarding the values and practice important features for surgeons and pathologists were made. (4) Conclusions: This study provided a few assumptions regarding the correlations between the values of maspin levels in the analyzed samples and the clinical and pathological features. These results may be useful as preoperative investigations in order to help surgeons localize, approximate and choose the best treatment. These correlations may facilitate minim invasive and fast diagnosis of gastric cancer based on reliable detection of maspin concentration in biological samples (tumoral tissues, blood, saliva and urine).

Correlation between Maspin Levels in Different Biological Samples and Pathologic Features in Colorectal Adenocarcinomas

Maspin is an important biomarker which was proven to be correlated to many pathological features that can help the oncologists, the surgeons and also the pathologists for choosing the personalized treatment of the patients. Maspin expression correlates with the budding of colorectal adenocarcinomas that is usually used mostly in immunohistochemistry. In this preliminary study, a small number of patients with clinical and pathological features were selected. Four kinds of samples (tumoral tissues, blood, saliva and urine) were analyzed using a stochastic method using stochastic microsensors. Whole blood maspin concentration values were related to budding, molecular subtype and location. Tissular maspin concentrations were related to location, maxi-mum diameter and pN value from TNM staging system. Salivary maspin concentrations were related to budding, mucinous compound and macroscopic features. Urinary maspin concentrations were related to pT value from TNM staging system, budding and molecular subtype. The correlations made in this paper may be used for fast diagnostic of colorectal adenocarcinomas, after which, it will be tested on a significant number of patients confirmed with colon cancer, in different stages of evolution.

Carbon Nanopowder-Based Stochastic Sensor for Ultrasensitive Assay of CA 15-3, CEA and HER2 in Whole Blood

Two microsensors obtained by the physical immobilization of 5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-21H,23H-porphine (TPP) and 5,10,15,20-tetrakis (pentafluorophenyl chloride)-21H,23H-iron (III) porphyrin (Fe(TPFPP)Cl) in carbon nanopowder decorated with gold nanoparticles (AuNp) were designed, characterized, validated and used for the molecular recognition and simultaneous ultrasensitive determination of CEA, CA15-3 and HER2 in whole blood. High sensitivities were recorded for both microsensors. Low limits of quantification were recorded for all biomarkers: CEA (12.8 pg mL^-1 by using Fe(TPFPP)Cl/AuNp, and 190 fg mL^-1 by using TPP/AuNp), CA 15-3 (100 fU mL^-1 for both microsensors) and HER2 (3.9 fg mL^-1 by using Fe(TPFPP)Cl/AuNp, and 35 fg mL^-1 by using TPP/AuNp). A very good correlation between the results obtained using the proposed microsensors and ELISA, certified by the Student t-test, proves that the screening test can be used for ultrasensitive assays of the three biomarkers in whole blood.