A ‘lollipop’ that can diagnose mouth cancer early is being developed by researchers, funded by the Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) campaign for Cancer Research UK and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

Ruchi Gupta, associate professor of Biosensors at the University of Birmingham, has been awarded £350,000 over the next three years by SU2C and EPSRC to make a prototype flavoured ‘lollipop’.

The ‘lollipop’ will be created from a smart hydrogel previously developed by Ruchi and her team. Patients suck on the lollipop, transferring a saliva sample into the hydrogel. Scientists can then analyse the liquid for saliva proteins, which indicate the early stages of mouth cancer.

Ruchi said, “Smart hydrogels have exciting potential for diagnosing mouth cancer. They can be easily moulded into shapes as a solid to ‘catch’ proteins in saliva.

“We’re really excited to start the next phase of this project. We’re hoping that we can be the first to make a device which is much kinder for diagnosing mouth cancer for patients and easier for GPs to use.”

According to the NHS, around 12,400 people are diagnosed with cancers of the head and neck in the UK every year. Currently, diagnosing mouth cancer can involve putting a flexible camera on the end of a tube through the nose or mouth and taking a biopsy for testing. This procedure is invasive and time-consuming, requiring an endoscopist.

Iain Foulkes, executive director of research and innovation at Cancer Research UK, said, “Biopsies and nasoendoscopy are the gold standard for diagnosing mouth cancer, but it requires great skill to carry out and can feel unpleasant for patients. We want an accurate, faster and kinder alternative test which can help us diagnose cases of mouth cancer sooner.

“This project is an exciting first step towards an entirely new way to identify mouth cancers earlier. Research like this is guiding us towards a future where people can live longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.”

Faye’s story

Faye Giles, a mouth cancer survivor from Wolverhampton, had a biopsy and was devastated to learn that she not only had tongue cancer, but that it had spread to the lymph nodes in her neck.

Faye said, “I think the lollipop idea is brilliant because it will be much less daunting for people. I remember being very anxious when I had my biopsy. The procedure itself was bad enough but the fear of knowing I might have cancer made it so much worse.”

Faye underwent extensive surgery to reconstruct her tongue as well as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. She was unable to eat or speak for six months and had to have a tracheostomy as well as a feeding tube into her stomach.

She added, “Doctors thought I might never be able to eat or speak again but I was absolutely determined so just kept practicing my speech. Thanks to my parents being there for me and bribing me to eat with pieces of cake, I slowly got better.”

“If this diagnostic tool becomes a reality, then I’m sure it will help people feel more at ease. I know the devastating effects that mouth cancer can have if not diagnosed early so anything that encourages people to get tested at the earliest opportunity is priceless.”

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