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Scientists at the University of Edinburgh have created a revolutionary test that detects breast cancer at its earliest stage, stage 1a, using laser technology and artificial intelligence.
The test works by shining a laser beam into a patient’s blood plasma to identify subtle chemical changes in cells and tissues that occur during the disease's initial phases. These changes, undetectable with current screening methods like biopsies or imaging, are analyzed using AI, which interprets the results with remarkable accuracy.
In a pilot study involving 12 breast cancer patients and 12 healthy individuals, the test achieved a 98% success rate in identifying early-stage breast cancer. Additionally, it was able to differentiate between the four major subtypes of breast cancer with an accuracy exceeding 90%. This advancement could lead to highly personalized treatments, offering patients better chances of long-term survival. According to
"Most deaths from cancer occur following a late-stage diagnosis after symptoms become apparent," said Dr Andy Downes who led the study.
"Early diagnosis is key to long-term survival, and we finally have the technology required. We just need to apply it to other cancer types and build up a database, before this can be used as a multi-cancer test."
This laser-based technique has previously been used in screenings for bowel cancer, but this marks its first application as an early diagnostic tool for breast cancer. The researchers aim to expand the technology to other cancer types and develop a multi-cancer test by creating a robust database of results.
Published in the Journal of Biophotonics, this research highlights the importance of early detection in improving survival rates. Studies funded by Cancer Research UK have shown that women diagnosed early are far more likely to become long-term survivors due to advancements in healthcare and treatment. This new test could pave the way for transformative improvements in cancer diagnostics worldwide.
