Towards sense and sensitivity-based electrochemical biosensors for liquid biopsy-based breast cancer detection

Rapid diagnosis is an important pillar in the fight against breast cancer. The ultimate goal of early detection is to find tumors before they reach a malignant stage. In recent decades, a noninvasive approach to breast cancer detection has narrowed the gap between detection and treatment. As such, liquid biopsies have pioneered the detection, differentiation, and monitoring of cancers that appear earlier than is possible with traditional techniques. However, developing methods for detecting nonin-vasive breast cancer based on liquid biopsies remains a challenge. The lack of a reliable screening method to monitor patients in the premalignant phase prevents the development of personalized therapy. Measuring specific molecules in the bloodstream in vivo would provide physicians with crucial infor-mation about patients' health status and their response to drugs, thanks largely to rapid advances in nanomaterial-based biosensors. With the introduction of highly sensitive and innovative strategies, the landscape of liquid biopsy-based detection is finally changing, bringing a new era of cancer management closer than ever before. These techniques are still in the growth phase, and researchers are focusing on the use of liquid biopsies and nanomaterials to detect early-stage breast cancer. We provide a detailed overview of the current state of knowledge on various nanomaterials and electrochemical biosensors and their role in the digitization of healthcare in cancer treatment, which is particularly beneficial for pa-tients with remote diagnosis, and summarize future research perspectives. In addition, we offer our own perspectives on the difficulties that exist in this evolving sector, as well as the opportunities presented by the development of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and other related technologies. Finally, we put our heads together on the barriers to technology transfer from the lab to the clinic for commercialization.(c) 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Early diagnosis is crucial in the fight against breast cancer, with liquid biopsies offering a non-invasive approach. However, detecting non-invasive breast cancer remains challenging, and the lack of reliable screening methods hampers personalized therapy. Nanomaterials and electrochemical biosensors are being used in liquid biopsy-based detection, but they are still in the growth phase.