Electrochemical (bio)sensors for cancer therapy monitoring
• Electrochemical biosensors enable real-time cancer therapy monitoring. • The device detects ctDNA, miRNA, drugs and proteins with high sensitivity. • The technology supports wearable, implantable, and point-of-care applications. • The system combines AI and omics to generate personalized treatment choices. • Cost-effective monitoring empowers precision oncology. Traditional therapeutic methods fail to meet the demands of cancer therapy complexity and precision medicine requirements. Real-time point-of-care (POC) monitoring through molecular feedback is essential for these systems. Electrochemical biosensors drive this transition through their combination of high sensitivity and specificity with their ability to fit into miniaturized platforms. The article investigates the proper implementation of electrochemical biosensors for cancer therapy monitoring in real-time settings. The systems track circulating chemotherapeutic agents together with tumor-derived nucleic acids including circulating tumor DNA ( ctDNA ) and microRNA ( miRNA ) and assess oxidative stress markers and immune checkpoint proteins. Their capabilities support early detection of treatment failure, resistance development, and dosing needs and further critical components of precision oncology. This review evaluates the process of integrating electrochemical biosensors into portable, wearable and implantable systems for continuous cancer therapy monitoring. The combination of microfluidics with wireless transmission and advanced materials leads to improved functionality and biocompatibility. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) for signal analysis enables healthcare providers to make adaptive treatment choices. The systems that use clinically validated technologies show promising capabilities for real-world deployment. In conclusion, electrochemical biosensors mark a turning point in cancer care. By enabling real-time, biologically informed, and patient-specific monitoring, they bridge the gap between therapy and precision. These systems have the potential to revolutionize cancer treatment by becoming an adaptive and intelligent process when properly integrated into clinical practice.
Authors
- Nina Felli
- Wanda Cimmino (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5840-5822)
- Antonio Giordano (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5959-016X)
- Michelino De Laurentiis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9009-1572)
- Massimo Giuseppe De Cesaris
- Sima Singh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5277-3430)
- Antonella Miglione (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7531-1159)
- Lorenzo Antonelli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1210-6884)
- Canio Martinelli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0587-8467)
- Stefano Cinti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8274-7452)
- Alessandra Glovi
- Gabriella Iula (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-6270-5503)
Institutions
- University of Siena (IT)
- University of Messina (IT)
- Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS "Fondazione G. Pascale" (IT)
- Scuola Superiore Meridionale (IT)
- University of Naples Federico II (IT)
- Temple University (US)
- Sapienza University of Rome (IT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Electrochimica Acta
- Published
- 2025-07-16
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2025.146929
- Citations
- 9
- Primary Topic
- Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 7.25
Funders
- Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro
- Horizon 2020 Framework Programme
- H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions