Applications of electrochemical analytical techniques in HER2 detection for breast cancer

This review examines the applications of electrochemical analytical techniques for detecting human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) in breast cancer diagnostics. HER2 overexpression occurs in 15–20 % of breast cancers and is associated with aggressive tumor behavior. Accurate HER2 detection is crucial for prognosis and treatment selection. Electrochemical methods offer advantages over traditional techniques, including high sensitivity, rapid analysis, low cost, and potential for miniaturization. The review discusses various electrochemical approaches, focusing on immunosensors and aptamer-based sensors. Immunosensors utilize antibodies as biorecognition elements, often incorporating nanomaterials to enhance performance. Aptasensors employ synthetic oligonucleotides with high affinity and selectivity for HER2. Both sensor types demonstrate detection limits in the pico- to femtomolar range. Other promising approaches include molecularly imprinted polymer-based sensors and electrochemiluminescence methods. Despite significant progress, challenges remain in standardization, long-term stability, and clinical validation. Future developments may involve integrating electrochemical HER2 sensors with point-of-care testing (POCT) platforms, potentially enabling rapid, on-site assessment. Advancements in nanomaterials, surface chemistry, and data analysis techniques offer opportunities to improve sensor performance. As these challenges are addressed, electrochemical HER2 sensors have the potential to complement or replace current testing methods, offering more accessible and efficient HER2 assessment for improved breast cancer management.