Scientists develop ‘lollipops’ that can diagnose mouth cancer ‘before symptoms show’
SCIENTISTS are developing “flavoured lollipops” to spot mouth cancer without using painful and invasive methods.
At present, diagnosing mouth cancer can involve putting a flexible camera on the end of a tube through someone’s nose or mouth and taking a biopsy for testing.
This procedure is invasive, and can be painful and time-consuming, requiring the specialist skills of an endoscopist.
Around 12,400 people are diagnosed with cancers of the head and neck in the UK every year, according to Cancer Research UK.
Researchers say that their lollipop could be a quicker and kinder alternative that could be used in primary care settings, like GP surgeries.
The lollipop is made using a material known as smart hydrogel, which was developed by scientists at the University of Birmingham.
The idea is that patients suck on the lollipop, transferring a saliva sample into the hydrogel.
The researchers said that the hydrogel acts like a fishing net by “catching” proteins – along with salvia – that could be biomarkers of cancer.
The “net” can later be cut open in the lab to release the proteins for analysis, they added.
Dr Ruchi Gupta, associate professor of biosensors at the University of Birmingham, said: “Smart hydrogels have really exciting potential for diagnosing mouth cancer.
“They can be easily moulded into shapes as a solid to ‘catch’ proteins in saliva. We’re really excited to start the next phase of this project.
“We’re hoping that we can be the first to make a device which is much kinder for diagnosing mouth cancer for patients and easier for GPs to use.”
The project has received £350,000 in funding from Cancer Research UK and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.
Dr Gupta said the team are currently looking at focus groups to determine flavours for the lollipops.
Dr Iain Foulkes, executive director of research and innovation at Cancer Research UK, said: “Biopsies and nasoendoscopy are the gold standard for diagnosing mouth cancer, but it requires great skill to carry out and can feel unpleasant for patients.
“We want an accurate, faster and kinder alternative test which can help us diagnose cases of mouth cancer sooner.
“This project is an exciting first step towards an entirely new way to identify mouth cancers earlier.
“Research like this is guiding us towards a future where people can live longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.”
Rachel Parsons, 52, from Coventry, needed a biopsy after being referred to Coventry University Hospital with a lump on her cheek in 2008.
The mum of five said she was unprepared for the procedure which turned out to be very painful.
Rachel said: “I had no idea what a biopsy really was.
“I had the kind of injection you get at the dentists and, when it wore off, it was really sore because I’d needed stitches.”
Rachel recalled her cheek being in “constant pain” after the biopsy and then her stitches stitches popped.
She ended up having a nine-and-a-half-hour operation to remove a cancerous tumour from her cheek and replace the skin with tissue and veins from her forearm.
Rachel said: “The thought of putting a lollipop round your mouth instead of having a biopsy in the first instance is amazing.
“I wish something like that had existed when I was diagnosed.”
What are the signs of mouth cancer?
ABOUT 10,000 people are diagnosed with mouth cancer, sometimes called oral cancer, every year in the UK.
It can start anywhere in the mouth, from the lips and gums to inside the cheeks.
Signs can include:
- A mouth ulcer in your mouth that lasts more than 3 weeks
- A red or white patch inside your mouth
- A lump inside your mouth or on your lip
- Pain inside your mouth
- Difficulty swallowing
- Difficulty speaking or a hoarse (croaky) voice
- A lump in your neck or throat
- Losing weight without trying
Experts don’t know exactly what causes the disease, but there are some factors that can increase your risk of developing it. These include:
- Smoking
- Chewing tobacco
- Drinking alcohol
- HPV infection
- A diet low in fruit and vegetables
- A weak immune system
- Family history
- Little physical activity
Cancer that starts at the top of the throat right at the back of the mouth is called oropharyngeal cancer.
Source: Cancer Research UK, NHS