Detect cancer as early as possible, yes, but how? Swedish researchers have developed a new way to interpret changes in sugar molecules in cancer cells. It will be necessary to wait a few years to begin clinical testing.
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“ We want to develop a reliable and rapid analysis method to detect cancer, as well as the type of cancer, from a blood or saliva sample “, says Daniel Bojar, researcher at the University of Gothenburg (Sweden) and co-author of a study which presents one based on artificial intelligence (AI). The technique helps interpret changes to glycans — a type of sugar molecule — that occur in cancer cells. It is known that changes in glycan structure can indicate inflammation or disease in the body. This glycomics method, evaluated by mass spectrometry, therefore plays a crucial role in understanding the biological processes in which glycans are involved, such as the development of different types of cancers.
Clinical tests within 4 to 5 years
The study published in Cell Reports Methods included data from approximately 220 patients with 11 different cancers. The researchers report finding differences in glycan substructure depending on cancer type, which they identify as biomarkers of interest.
The AI-enhanced method used large amounts of data to find the link between sugar structure and cancer type. “ We can trust our results, they are statistically significant. We will now use these biomarkers and develop testing methods », concludes Daniel Bojar, who estimates that he will be able to use saliva or blood samples in clinical tests within 4 to 5 years.
