Early detection of cancer with smart phones becomes a reality
Utilizing ribosomal protein S3 (rpS3) to simultaneously screen various types of cancers
The result of converging BT and IT technologies

▲ Professor Joon Kim

KU Medical Center and Professor Joon Kim from the College of Life Sciences & Biotechnology, in collaboration with HAEL Lab, a corporate affiliated research institute of HAEL Ltd. led by Doctor Hag Dong Kim, succeeded in developing a portable self-diagnostic kit for screening cancer. By utilizing a biomarker that is found specifically in various cancer patients, the test results can be confirmed easily through a smartphone.

This medical device for screening cancer is the first of its kind to quantify rpS3 secreted from cancer cells in a single drop of blood. This not only allows patients to detect cancer early, but also allows them to follow up on their surgery and post chemotherapy monitoring. It is further expected to be utilized for evaluating any spread of cancer to other parts of the body and identifying areas of cancerization.

The research team stated, “So far, clinical studies on patients with gastrointestinal cancer have shown enhanced sensitivity and specificity compared to the serologic biomarkers for cancer screening. Based on these achievements, we have been conducting clinical tests in the first half of 2017 to get approval for three domestic patents and three international patents. These patents are expected to be licensed for commercialization of the medical devices.”

Doctor Hag Dong Kim said, “Through early cancer detection and prognosis prediction, we expect the development and commercialization of diagnostic screening devices to contribute to the enhancement of cancer treatments. Moreover, we also expect to further apply the relevant results in expanding our business with regard to developing functional cosmetics, and anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal agents.”

Professor Joon Kim who is the CEO of HAEL Ltd., obtained his degrees in the Department of Microbiology at Seoul National University, University of California, Berkeley, and Harvard University. He is currently a professor in Korea University’s College of Life Sciences & Biotechnology and has served as the Director of the Life Sciences Department at the Korea Research Foundation which conducts national research projects.