Early detection of pancreatic cancers in liquid biopsies by ultrasensitive fluorescence nanobiosensors.

Numerous proteases, such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), cathepsins (CTS), and urokinase plasminogen activator (UpA), are dysfunctional (that is, over- or under-expressed) in solid tumors, when compared to healthy human subjects. This offers the opportunity to detect early tumors by liquid biopsies. This approach is of particular advantage for the early detection of pancreatic cancer, which is a "silent killer".

Early breast cancer screening using iron/iron oxide-based nanoplatforms with sub-femtomolar limits of detection.

Proteases, including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), tissue serine proteases, and cathepsins (CTS) exhibit numerous functions in tumor biology. Solid tumors are characterized by changes in protease expression levels by tumor and surrounding tissue. Therefore, monitoring protease levels in tissue samples and liquid biopsies is a vital strategy for early cancer detection.