Single-nucleotide variant profiling in liquid biopsy with RECO-Cas
A new CRISPR test detects cancer mutations in blood with smartphone readout, potentially making early detection faster and more accessible.
A novel CRISPR-Cas12a assay (RECO-Cas) combines Argonaute-nicked mutant DNA with an artificial activator to achieve 0.01% variant allele frequency sensitivity for cfDNA mutation detection in cancer liquid biopsies. Tested in clinical plasma samples, it showed 90.48% sensitivity and 100% specificity for KRAS, EGFR, and PIK3CA mutations, with POC-compatible smartphone-based fluorescence readout.
What the study was
- Study design
- Technical validation with clinical samples
- Population
- Clinical plasma samples from cancer patients
- Category
- Early Detection
- Maturity
- Exploratory
- Journal
- Science Advances
Why it surfaced
Highly novel CRISPR-based cfDNA SNV detection with 0.01% VAF sensitivity — substantially exceeds typical liquid biopsy sensitivity thresholds. POC-compatible platform addresses major access barrier. Clinical plasma validation with key oncology mutations (KRAS/EGFR/PIK3CA). Published in Science Advances.
A plain-language summary of published research — not medical advice. Talk to a clinician about your own care.