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Review
. 2025 Apr 17;15(4):257.
doi: 10.3390/bios15040257.

Innovative Methodologies for the Early Detection of Breast Cancer: A Review Categorized by Target Biological Samples

Antonella Grasso  1 , Vittorio Altomare  1 , Giulia Fiorini  2 , Alessandro Zompanti  3 , Giorgio Pennazza  3 , Marco Santonico  2
Affiliations
Review

Innovative Methodologies for the Early Detection of Breast Cancer: A Review Categorized by Target Biological Samples

Antonella Grasso et al. Biosensors (Basel). .

Abstract

Innovative biosensor technologies are revolutionizing cancer detection by offering non-invasive, sensitive, and rapid diagnostic tools, addressing the limitations of conventional screening. Non-invasive samples like breath, saliva, urine, and sweat, analyzed using advanced technologies like electronic nose systems and AI, show promise for early detection and frequent monitoring, though validation is needed. AI integration enhances data analysis and personalization. While blood-based methods remain the gold standard, combining them with less invasive sample types like saliva or sweat, and using sensitive techniques, is a promising direction. Conventional methods (mammography, MRI, etc.) offer proven efficacy, but are costly and invasive. Innovative methods using biosensors offer reduced infrastructure needs, lower costs, and patient-friendly sampling. However, challenges remain in validation, standardization, and low biomarker concentrations. Integrating both methodologies could create a comprehensive framework, combining reliability with accessibility. Future research should focus on robust biosensor development, standardization, expanding application to other cancers, exploring less-studied samples like sweat, and improving affordability for wider adoption, especially in resource-limited settings. The future lies in integrating diverse approaches for more sensitive, specific, and patient-friendly screening, improving early detection and outcomes.

Keywords: biosensor technologies; early detection; non-invasive cancer detection.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Incidence of different cancer types among females in 2022. “IARC, 2022” [1].
Figure 2
Figure 2
Breast cancer incidence rates by age group and survival rates by cancer stage [1].
Figure 3
Figure 3
Percentage distribution of different sample types used in breast cancer detection, highlighting the predominance of blood-based samples and in situ methods.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Different analytical techniques applied to different samples.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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