Creatine kinase in prostate cancer: A biosensor-driven diagnostic paradigm

Background

Prostate cancer (PC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related morbidity in men worldwide. Emerging evidence suggests that the brain-type creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-BB) is overexpressed in PC tissue and correlates with tumor progression. However, conventional assays for CK-BB lack the sensitivity and rapid turnaround required for routine clinical use.

Methods/Technology

We reviewed recent advances in CK-BB-targeted biosensors across three platform categories. First, electrochemical sensors enhanced with nanomaterials such as graphene and gold nanoparticles have produced amplified current or impedance signals for ultra-sensitive CK-BB detection. Second, optical sensors, including fluorescence and surface plasmon resonance systems that incorporate quantum dots and plasmonic nanoparticles, offer label-free real-time monitoring. Third, emerging formats, from paper-based strips to wearable devices and microfluidic lab-on-a-chip assays, promise point-of-care applicability. Integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with microfluidics was also evaluated for automated, real-time CK-BB profiling.

Key findings

Nanomaterial-modified electrodes achieved detection limits for CK-BB in the low picogram-per-milliliter range, outperforming standard immunoassays in both assay speed (minutes versus hours) and analytical sensitivity. Clinical discrimination between malignant and benign prostatic conditions exceeded 85 percent accuracy in small patient cohorts, demonstrating the potential diagnostic value of CK-BB biosensing. Nevertheless, device reproducibility and matrix interference remain significant challenges, and only a few platforms have progressed beyond proof-of-concept to larger-scale clinical validation. Preliminary applications of machine-learning algorithms to sensor output show promise in reducing false positives and automating interpretation.

Conclusion

CK-BB-targeted biosensors hold considerable promise as an adjunct to prostate-specific antigen testing by enabling faster, more sensitive detection of metabolic changes associated with prostate cancer. To facilitate translation into routine clinical practice, future efforts must focus on standardizing calibration protocols, validating performance in diverse patient populations, and addressing manufacturing and regulatory hurdles. Moreover, coupling CK-BB detection with multiplexed biomarker panels and AI-driven analysis may further enhance diagnostic precision and support truly personalized management of prostate cancer.