New Research of IISc can Detect Liver Cancer

New Research of IISc can Detect Liver Cancer

Why in News? 

Recently researchers at IISc developed a low-cost paper sensor that glows green under UV light to detect liver cancer early. This sensor identifies an enzyme linked to liver disease and offers a simple tool for early diagnosis.

Key Highlights of New Research of IISc can Detect Liver Cancer

• Researchers at IISc created a sensor that glows green under UV light when it detects β‑glucuronidase. This enzyme acts as a key biomarker for liver cancer and other diseases.
• They embedded terbium ions in a gel made from bile salts that acts as a fluorescent probe. 
• They anchored this gel onto a paper disc to enable easy handling and testing.
• The researchers measured the detection limit at 185 ng/mL of β‑glucuronidase. This threshold lies well below the typical enzyme levels seen in early liver disease.
• The test requires only a few minutes under UV light to generate a visible green glow.
• It uses ordinary UV lamps available in basic labs or clinics. Users can analyze the glow using free software like ImageJ.
• This technique eliminates short-lived background brightness. It delivers a clear green glow that users can easily interpret under UV light.
• The method works with free image-processing software. It removes the need for high-end fluorescence lab tools.

What Is Liver Cancer?

• Introduction: 

• • • Liver cancer occurs when liver cells grow uncontrollably.
    • Generally primary liver cancer begins within the liver itself and secondary liver cancer begins in another organ and then spreads to the liver.
    • More than 800,000 people worldwide receive a liver cancer diagnosis each year.
    • The condition ranks as a leading cause of cancer death globally, causing around 700,000 fatalities annually.

• Types:

• • • Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) forms in main liver cells called hepatocytes. HCC represents about 80 % of primary liver cancers.
    • Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma arises in the liver’s bile ducts and makes up about 10–20 % of cases. 
    • Angiosarcoma and hepatoblastoma appear less often. Angiosarcoma affects blood vessel lining, and hepatoblastoma shows up mainly in children.

• Causes:

• • • Hepatitis B and hepatitis C viral infections cause most liver cancers globally.
    • Chronic alcohol consumption leads to cirrhosis and raises liver cancer risk and Non‑alcoholic fatty liver disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes also increase risk.
    • Other causes include aflatoxin exposure, hemochromatosis, and certain genetic disorders.

• Symptoms:

• • • Early liver cancer often causes no symptoms. Later signs may include pain or a lump under the right rib cage.
    • Patients may experience weight loss, loss of appetite, jaundice, abdominal swelling, dark urine, pale stools, and fatigue.

• Diagnosis: 

• • • Doctors check liver function and look for tumor markers like AFP using blood tests.
    • The BCLC staging system helps doctors choose the best treatment for liver cancer.
    • Imaging tests include ultrasound, CT, and MRI scans can also help to diagnose.

• Treatments:

• • • Early-stage HCC patients may undergo surgical resection or liver transplant.
    • Ablation techniques like radiofrequency and cryotherapy can destroy small tumors.
    • Doctors may use chemotherapy, targeted drugs or immunotherapy to treat advanced liver cancer.

• Prevention:

• • Vaccination against hepatitis B since the 1980s has helped reduce new cases and treating hepatitis C infections also decreases risk.
  • Avoiding alcohol and staying at a healthy weight lowers the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Why Early Detection of Liver Cancer Matters?

• Early detection gives patients better chances of survival. WHO states that catching cancer early reduces mortality and treatment costs. 
  • For liver cancer, early-stage detection can lead to a five-year survival rate over 70%. Late-stage detection drops survival below 16%.
  • India records about 38,700 new cases annually. Around 34,000 fatalities follow, making liver cancer one of India’s top ten cancers.
• Early-stage tumors often allow curative treatments like surgery or ablation. Late-stage tumors often require more aggressive methods like chemoembolization or systemic therapies.
• Cancer cases in India may rise to 1.57 million by the year 2025. In India and globally liver cancer deaths reach nearly 782,000 in 2015 and rise each year. Timely detection could reduce deaths and ease national health burdens.
• India’s HCC incidence rate remains around 2.15 per 100,000. Hepatitis B causes 40–50% of HCC cases in India, hepatitis C contributes 12–32%. Increasing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease may push future incidence higher, so early detection in India is vital to offset all these rising risks. 

Importance of the New Liver Cancer Detection Method

• Detecting Cancer Earlier: The new paper sensor helps find liver cancer at early stages. Early detection often improves treatment success. Liver cancer ranks among top cancer causes worldwide in 2025. Identifying it sooner can dramatically raise survival rates.

• Biomarker Accuracy: Previous test methods struggled with background noise or low sensitivity. This sensor shows reliable detection down to 185 ng/mL. The threshold lies well below levels seen in advanced disease.

• Cost Savings: The paper sensor uses cheap materials like filter paper and terbium gel. It functions without medical-grade instruments. Clinics can use basic UV lamps for readings. This affordability makes liver screening viable in low-resource areas. 

• Rapid Testing: The sensor responds in minutes. It avoids lengthy lab processing steps. Time savings matter for community clinics. Faster results also benefit patient follow-up actions. The method outpaces standard enzyme assays by a wide margin.

How the Paper Sensor Works?

• Composition: Scientists combined terbium ions with a bile-salt-based gel in 2025. They mixed terbium into soft gels that glow under UV light. They spread this gel on a paper disc. They also included a masked molecule, 2,3‑DHN, bound to glucuronic acid. These components form the basis of the sensor.

• Detection Mechanism: The sensor targets the enzyme β‑glucuronidase. The enzyme cleaves the glucuronic acid from the masked molecule. Once cleaved it releases free 2,3‑DHN. This step activates the sensor.

• Energy Transfer: Free 2,3‑DHN absorbs UV light. The molecule transfers energy to terbium ions nearby. This energy transfer triggers terbium to emit a bright green glow. The gel keeps the antenna and terbium close together. This proximity boosts glow intensity.

• Sensor Format: The team anchored the gel onto a small paper disc. This format allows simple handling and easy testing. The disc holds enough gel for a clear glow under UV. Users can apply sample fluid directly onto the disc.

• Steps: First, they place a drop of fluid containing β‑glucuronidase onto the disc. Then, they wait a few minutes for the enzyme to act. Then, they shine UV light on the disc. Then, they watch for a green glow that indicates enzyme presence.

Government Initiatives for Cancer Control

• • HEALD National Program: The Home Affairs Ministry launched HEALD in April 2025. HEALD focuses on liver disease awareness, early screening, and alcohol-use disorder treatment. It integrates community outreach, psychological support, and medical care.

• Ayushman Bharat & Cancer Screening: The Health Ministry added cancer screening services under the Ayushman Bharat program. By July 2024, over 170,000 health and wellness centres began offering screenings for NCDs and cancers. The program targets people aged 30 and above.

• Ayushman Bharat offers insurance-based financial cover for early cancer treatment. The scheme supports tests and checkups related to liver disease and early cancer detection.

• National Viral Hepatitis Control Program: The NVHCP offers free diagnostics and treatments for viral hepatitis B and C. The program expanded in 2024 with point-of-care HBV DNA testing. It includes new guidelines to treat children aged 3+ with hepatitis C after June 2024. By 2024, India had nearly 29 million HBV and 5.5 million HCV infections. 

Cancer Care Infrastructure: The 2025–26 budget allocated ₹99,858 cr to health and research ministries. The plan includes the establishment of 200 new Day‑Care Cancer Centres by 2026. The National Cancer Grid grew to 362 centres by early 2025. The grid also standardized treatment protocols and guided quality improvements.