A Nano Analysis Method for Early Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer with PCA3 Biomarker Through Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

Prostate Cancer (PC) is one of the most common cancers among male patients. The diagnosis process is challenging when distinguishing between indolent and aggressive PC. Current diagnosis includes PSA test, which requires other tests such as MRI or tissue biopsy to further distinguish the type and phase of prostate cancer. A clinically significant Prostate Cancer (csPC) requires a PSA level higher than 20 ng/mL. Previous research on determining whether a patient qualifies for csPC focused mainly on different calculation systems using multiple biomarkers found in patients’ urine samples. Exosomal Vesicles (EV) are lipid bilayer organelles containing various proteins and RNAs, including Prostate Cancer Antigen 3 (PCA3), a messenger RNA that is overexpressed in PC patients. In this research, we demonstrate the effect nano analysis of trace concentration of biomarker PCA3 through Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) with silver nanoparticles. After established the SERS enhancement versus the concentration of PCA3 calibration curve, artificial urine samples are used for the study. This SERS nano analysis shows a highly sensitive method to diagnose trace concentration changes in artificial urine samples, indicating its great potential for the early diagnosis of Prostate cancer for patients near future. This would allow doctors to find effective treatments for the patients as early as possible, so as to save their lives.