What You Should Know:
– Jerusalem-based Salignostics, a company specializing in rapid tests using saliva samples, has joined forces with ARC Innovation, the innovation arm of Sheba Medical Center, in a groundbreaking initiative.
– The strategic partnership is focused on developing a revolutionary test for early detection of oral cavity cancer through saliva analysis.
Early Detection: A Critical Need in Oral Cancer
Globally, over 400,000 individuals are diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer annually. The stark reality is that the average five-year survival rate after diagnosis is a mere 50%. This grim statistic underscores the critical need for a more effective early detection tool. Current methods primarily rely on physical examination and tissue biopsies, often identifying the disease only after it has progressed.
A Pioneering Approach to Cancer Detection
Sheba Medical Center’s Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Institute, led by Dr. Alex Dobrian, is spearheading the cooperation and research efforts. Other key figures involved include Dr. Eran Alon (Ear, Nose and Throat Department), Prof. Iris Barshak (Institute of Pathology), and Prof. Gidi Rechavi (Director, Sheba Cancer Research Center).
The saliva test being jointly developed by Salignostics and Sheba has the potential to be a game-changer. It could become one of the first in the world to enable early detection of oral cavity cancer using a simple saliva sample. This approach, if successful, could pave the way for similar tests for other cancer types.
Saliva: A Promising Avenue for Early Detection
The decision to focus on oral cavity cancer as the initial target stems from the direct contact saliva has with infected tissues. This contact increases the likelihood of detecting disease markers, potentially leading to the identification of a significant portion of tumors at an early stage. Following successful proof-of-concept, the team will explore developing solutions for other cancers, including head and neck cancers.
Leveraging Salignostics’ Proven Platform
The foundation of this collaboration lies in Salignostics’ innovative platform for saliva processing. This platform is the culmination of decades of research and has already yielded rapid tests for pregnancy, COVID-19, and more, available for home use.
“The potential for early detection of head and neck cancer in general, and oral cavity cancer in particular, is tremendous and may have a very significant impact on the ability of these complex patients to recover. The connection between Sheba’s leading head and neck team and Salignostics’ versatile and groundbreaking technology can bring great diagnostic news,” said Dr. Alex Dobrian, director of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Institute at Sheba Medical Center.
