Detection of Breast Cancer ESR1 p.E380Q Mutation on an ISFET Lab-on-Chip Platform

This paper presents a method for detection of ESR1 p.E380Q, a common Breast Cancer (BC) mutation, using an ISFET (Ion-Sensitive Field-Effect Transistor) based Lab-on-Chip (LoC) platform. The LoC contains an ISFET array that can detect pH changes during DNA amplification, specifically Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP). Synthetic ESR1 DNA was detected in a comparison pH-LAMP assay, carried out on the LoC platform as well as a conventional qPCR instrument. Positive detection of the allele arises due to bespoke allele-specific primers that target one base-pair difference between the wild-type and mutant alleles. The LoC and qPCR demonstrate comparable results detecting the mutant allele with mutant primers in around 25 minutes. The sensing microchip technology coupled with the molecular methods of isothermal chemistries and primer design allow this platform to be tested at a Point-of-Care setting for breast cancer patients, offering mutational tracking platform of circulating tumour DNA in liquid biopsies to assist patient stratification and allow tailored treatments.