Protein biomarker detection in prostate cancer: A comprehensive review of electrochemical biosensors

Rapid on-site electrochemical screening for prostate cancer (PCa) in the clinic holds the potential for early diagnosis of PCa patients. Currently, the accuracy of commonly used biomarkers is insufficient; however, several protein biomarker candidates show promise for diagnostic or prognostic patient screening. Among these candidates are Prostate specific antigen (PSA), Human glandular kallikrein 2 (hK2), Annexins 3 (Annex 3), Beta-2-microglobulin (β2M), Microseminoprotein-beta (MSMB), Serum amyloid A (SAA), and Engrailed-2 (EN2). This review provides an overview of the advancements in electrochemical biosensor development specifically targeting the detection of these seven biomarkers. The selection of these biomarkers was based on their suitability for protein-level detection using electrochemical sensors, as well as their presence in biological fluids. Moreover, we emphasize that relying solely on a single biomarker may not be sufficient to obtain precise diagnostic information. It is now widely accepted that panels of biomarkers measured in a multiplexed fashion are of greater clinical utility than single biomarkers. Therefore, we suggest that future research prioritize the utilization of multiplex electrochemical methods for measuring panels of protein biomarkers, offering a simple and efficient approach for regular PCa monitoring.