Laser light enables detection of colorectal cancer biomarker in blood within minutes

Billy Odell Tucker-Robinson Founder & Host — Banking With Billy Network • Intelligence Network • Data Science • AI Research • World News
Published: 2026-09-25T19:00:37.525Z • Permanent link

Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) have made a groundbreaking discovery that utilizes laser light to detect a colorectal cancer biomarker in blood samples within minutes. Led by Dr. Jennifer J. Eckenroth, a renowned expert in biomedical optics, the team developed a novel method that leverages the precision of antibodies to identify specific molecular targets in blood. The breakthrough was announced at the annual Biomedical Optics Conference in San Francisco, where Dr. Eckenroth presented the findings to a packed audience of researchers and industry professionals.

The research was conducted in collaboration with researchers from the University of Southern California (USC) and the Keck School of Medicine of USC. The team employed a cutting-edge technique that combines laser light with advanced imaging technologies to detect the biomarker, which is a protein that is significantly elevated in the blood of patients with colorectal cancer. The method, which has been dubbed "Laser-Optical Biosensing," uses a specially designed laser to excite the biomarker, allowing researchers to detect its presence in blood samples with unprecedented accuracy.

The implications of this technology are profound, as it has the potential to revolutionize the early detection and diagnosis of colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide, and current diagnostic methods often rely on invasive procedures such as colonoscopies. The new method, which can detect the biomarker in blood samples within minutes, has the potential to transform the way we diagnose and treat this devastating disease.

The breakthrough has significant implications for the global healthcare industry, particularly in the context of colorectal cancer diagnosis and treatment. Companies such as Exact Sciences, which is developing a non-invasive test for colorectal cancer, are likely to be impacted by the new technology. Exact Sciences has already reported promising results from its own research on the biomarker, and the company's stock price has surged in response to the news.

Research communities around the world will also be affected by the new technology, as it has the potential to accelerate the development of new diagnostic methods for colorectal cancer. The American Cancer Society, which has long advocated for increased investment in cancer research, is likely to take notice of the breakthrough and may increase its support for research into the biomarker.

Moreover, the implications of the breakthrough extend beyond the healthcare industry, as it has the potential to transform the way we approach disease diagnosis and treatment more broadly. The use of laser light and advanced imaging technologies to detect biomarkers in blood samples has far-reaching implications for a wide range of medical applications, from cancer diagnosis to infectious disease detection.