Physical Limits of Proximal Tumor Detection via MAGE-A Extracellular Vesicles

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Main Authors: Okcu, A. Sila, Bas, M. Etem, Akan, Ozgur B.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Okcu, A. Sila
Bas, M. Etem
Akan, Ozgur B.
author_facet Okcu, A. Sila
Bas, M. Etem
Akan, Ozgur B.
contents Early cancer detection relies on invasive tissue biopsies or liquid biopsies limited by biomarker dilution. In contrast, tumour-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) carrying biomarkers like melanoma-associated antigen-A (MAGE-A) are highly concentrated in the peri-tumoral interstitial space, offering a promising near-field target. However, at micrometre scales, EV transport is governed by stochastic diffusion in a low copy number regime, increasing the risk of false negatives. We theoretically assess the feasibility of a smart-needle sensor detecting MAGE-A-positive microvesicles near a tumour. We use a hybrid framework combining particle-based Brownian dynamics (Smoldyn) to quantify stochastic arrival and false negative probabilities, and a reaction-diffusion PDE for mean concentration profiles. Formulating detection as a threshold-based binary hypothesis test, we find a maximum feasible detection radius of approximately 275 micrometers for a 6000 s sensing window. These results outline the physical limits of proximal EV-based detection and inform the design of minimally invasive peri-tumoral sensors.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2512_23555
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Physical Limits of Proximal Tumor Detection via MAGE-A Extracellular Vesicles
Okcu, A. Sila
Bas, M. Etem
Akan, Ozgur B.
Medical Physics
Signal Processing
Early cancer detection relies on invasive tissue biopsies or liquid biopsies limited by biomarker dilution. In contrast, tumour-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) carrying biomarkers like melanoma-associated antigen-A (MAGE-A) are highly concentrated in the peri-tumoral interstitial space, offering a promising near-field target. However, at micrometre scales, EV transport is governed by stochastic diffusion in a low copy number regime, increasing the risk of false negatives. We theoretically assess the feasibility of a smart-needle sensor detecting MAGE-A-positive microvesicles near a tumour. We use a hybrid framework combining particle-based Brownian dynamics (Smoldyn) to quantify stochastic arrival and false negative probabilities, and a reaction-diffusion PDE for mean concentration profiles. Formulating detection as a threshold-based binary hypothesis test, we find a maximum feasible detection radius of approximately 275 micrometers for a 6000 s sensing window. These results outline the physical limits of proximal EV-based detection and inform the design of minimally invasive peri-tumoral sensors.
title Physical Limits of Proximal Tumor Detection via MAGE-A Extracellular Vesicles
topic Medical Physics
Signal Processing
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.23555