CIP2A

Since oral cancer occurs in one of the most accessible sites in the body, it can be easily treated if detected promptly. Researchers report a breakthrough hand-held biosensor that enables quick and accurate detection of oral cancer. The group's biosensor consists of a sensor strip, similar to a glucose strip, and a circuit board (a hand-held terminal like a glucometer) for detection. Oral cancer is the 13th most common type of cancer globally, and oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) account for more than 90% of oral cancers. An estimated 300,000 new cases and 145,000 deaths worldwide were attributed to oral cancer in 2012. Since oral cancer occurs in one of the most accessible sites in the body, it can be easily treated if detected promptly. If caught early in the disease state, oral cancers that remain localized and are 2 centimeters or smaller can be cured and five-year survival rates exceed 90%. In Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology B, copublished by AIP Publishing and AVS, researchers from the University of Florida and National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in Taiwan report a breakthrough hand-held biosensor that enables quick and accurate detection of oral cancer. "Oral squamous cell carcinomas are one of the most common lip and oral cavity cancer types," said Minghan Xian, co-author and a researcher at the University of Florida. "It requires early detection via various medical technologies to improve the survival rate. While most detection techniques for OSCC require histological testing in a lab to confirm the presence of cancer and cancer type, a point-of-care detection technique is preferred for on-site use and a quick result readout." The group's biosensor consists of a sensor strip, similar to a glucose strip, and a circuit board (a hand-held terminal like a glucometer) for detection. "Typically, test fluid is introduced into a small liquid channel on the tip of the sensor strips," said Xian. "A few electrodes sit within the liquid channel, and the surface of these electrodes contain antibodies to specific proteins present within human oral cancer lesions. Short electrode pulses get sent through these electrodes during detection, and then the circuit board module analyzes this signal and outputs a four-digit number that correlates to its concentration." As far as applications, there's tremendous interest within the sensor and medical communities to develop semiconductor- and electrochemical-based biomarker detection. The team is now looking forward to demonstrating their integrated solution for cancer and other disease detection via a hand-held point-of-care device with a short detection time and low detection limit. They also hope their work will inspire further research into this topic. "The next step in this continuum is to conduct the analysis using in vivo samples of CIP2A -- a biomarker of OSCC -- in oral cancer and non-oral cancer patients with biopsy as a gold standard," said Xian.

PRESS RELEASE 27 OCTOBER 2022 AT 8.00 a.m. EEST Orion Research Foundation is awarding EUR 1 million in grants and two EUR 100,000 special grants today The Board of Directors of the Orion Research Foundation will today award grants on the basis of applications amounting to a total of EUR 1 million for 2023. This year, the Board of the Research Foundation will also award two special grants of EUR 100,000 to mid-career researchers. The grants will be awarded to Associate Professor Tiina Sikanen from the Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology at the University of Helsinki, and to Professor of Cancer Biology Jukka Westermarck from the Institute of Biomedicine and Research Director at the Turku Bioscience Centre at the University of Turku.Each year, the Orion Research Foundation distributes its investment income and the donation it receives from Orion Corporation as grants to young researchers and researchers who have recently gained doctorates to enable them to continue their research. In recent years, the Foundation has awarded grants by application amounting to a total of approximately EUR 1 million annually to researchers in the fields of medicine, veterinary medicine, pharmacy and related natural sciences such as chemistry and physics. This year, two special awards, which could not be applied for, will also be awarded. The two special grants will be awarded to mid-career researchers both for their valuable research work and for speaking publicly in support of research funding, thus promoting the cause of all researchers. In the past, the Research Foundation has granted three special awards on the basis of various award criteria to Hannes Lohi, research group leader, in 2012, and to Academy Professor Johanna Ivaska and Professor of Pharmacogenetics Mikko Niemi in 2017.Seeking a drug that is harmless for humans and the environment Tiina Sikanen is Associate Professor at the Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology at the University of Helsinki. She earned a PhD in pharmacy from the University of Helsinki in 2007 and a Master of Science in Technology degree in chemical engineering from Aalto University in 2010. Associate Professor Sikanen’s research group develops microchip-based methods for studying the metabolism of pharmaceutical ingredients, in other words, their transformation, in the body using the enzymes of various animal species and humans. Sikanen’s aim is to develop methods that enable rapid and patient-specific metabolite analytics to support personalised treatments. Patient-specific metabolite analytics can reduce the side effects of medicines as well as drug residues that burden the environment.“I want to form an overall idea of how research can provide a better understanding in the future of the environmental impacts and risks associated with pharmaceuticals ending up in the environment,” Sikanen says. In her appearances and publications, she has improved the public understanding of the environmental risks posed by active pharmaceutical ingredients and the need to reduce these risks among decision-makers, pharmaceutical and healthcare professionals and consumers. Sikanen has received a number of major awards for her research, including the Award for Scientific Courage from the Academy of Finland in 2019 and the L'Orèal For Women in Science award in 2020. She has published more than 60 scientific articles. Identifying the signalling mechanisms of cancer cellsJukka Westermarck is Professor of Cancer Biology at the Department of Medical Biochemistry in the Faculty of Medicine and Research Director at the Turku Bioscience Centre at the University of Turku. He earned the degree of licentiate of medicine in 1996 and a doctorate in medicine with distinction in 1998 from the University of Turku.His research team has endeavoured to identify the signalling mechanisms in cancer cells that promote malignancy in cancer. The group’s most significant achievement has been the identification of the CIP2A oncoprotein. This has provided new outlooks regarding the future opportunities of cancer treatment. CIP2A overproduction is one of the changes most commonly seen in cancer. “In about 70 per cent of all cancer samples, in almost all cancers, this mechanism is in operation.Over the last 4 to 5 years, the biology associated with phosphatases has also received attention in drug development. We are now starting to get closer to being able to bring new treatment to patients,” says Westermarck.Westermarck has received many awards for his successful scientific work, the most significant of which are the Young Investigator Award from the Finnish Medical Society Duodecim in 2007 and the Anders Jahre Young Scientist Award in 2009. He has published 116 original papers and 14 review articles. Invitation to the award ceremony today, 27 October 2022 (The event will be held in Finnish) Time: Thursday 27 October 2022 at 15.30 EESTPlace: Biomedicum, hall 3, Haartmaninkatu 8, HelsinkiClick here to join the meeting Further information: Anu ImppolaManager, Orion Research FoundationTel. +358 50 966 3803anu.imppola@orion.fi Media contacts: Terhi OrmioVP, Communications, Orion CorporationTel. +358 50 966 4646terhi.ormio@orion.fi Published by:Orion Research Foundation sr Attachments Tiina Sikanen Jukka Westermarck Invitation_27_October_2022