Epigenetics, not mutations

A universal blood test for all types of cancer has been developed

Svetlana Maslova, Hi-tech+

A laboratory test determines any type of cancer at the earliest stage. The versatility of diagnostics is provided by epigenetics and machine learning.

A group of Canadian researchers has presented a new diagnostic test using the liquid biopsy method to detect any type of tumor at an early stage. Scientists claim that the analysis can diagnose cancer long before the first symptoms appear, according to the website of the Medical Association of University Clinics in Toronto.

By investigating epigenetic changes instead of mutations, the team identified thousands of unique modifications for each type of cancer. The scientists examined more than 700 tumor samples, as well as the DNA of healthy people for analysis.

Thanks to machine learning, it was possible to create classifiers that find cancer DNA in a patient's blood sample.

"Our approach greatly simplifies the diagnostic stage. Instead of a needle in a haystack, the computer will simply choose the right option and give a diagnosis," says senior researcher Daniel Carvalho.

Now the team is planning a larger study, where it will analyze data from samples of cancer patients from different countries in order to prepare a test for further approval in clinical practice.

The Canadian method should become the main "competitor" of another diagnostic test, which also uses the liquid biopsy approach. It was created by scientists from the UK, and a license has already been obtained for industrial production.

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