Cell-free DNA assay can detect cancer in 10 minutes

University of Queensland researchers have developed a 10-minute, cell-free DNA (cfDNA) diagnostic assay that can detect multiple cancers by exploiting epigenetically programmed methylation patterns in cancer DNA that increases binding to gold nanoparticles.

In a paper published in Nature Communications, the scientists said that genomic DNA from normal cells and cancer cells have different methylation patterns. Normal cell DNA has methylcytosines dispersed throughout the genome, whereas cancer cell DNA is hypomethylated and contains methylcytosine clusters. The methylation clusters appeared to change DNA conformation in aqueous solution and increase binding to gold surfaces...