Scientists in US develop AI-based blood test to provide reliable way of identifying lung cancer

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Using artificial intelligence (AI) technology to identify patterns of DNA fragments associated with lung cancer, researchers from the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, US and other institutions have developed and validated a liquid biopsy that may help identify lung cancer earlier.

The team has demonstrated that artificial intelligence technology could identify people more likely to have lung cancer based on DNA fragment patterns in the blood.

The study enrolled about 1,000 participants with and without cancer who met the criteria for traditional lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography (CT).

Individuals were recruited to participate at 47 centres in 23 US states. By helping to identify patients most at risk and who would benefit from follow-up CT screening, this new blood test could potentially boost lung cancer screening and reduce death rates, according to computer modeling by the team.

The test is currently available through DELFI Diagnostics for use as a laboratory-based test under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments. However, the team plans to seek approval from the US Food and Drug Administration for lung cancer screening. The scientists also plan to study whether a similar approach could be used to detect other types of cancer.