Could AI & a Blood Test Help Spot Lung Cancers Early?

MONDAY, June 10, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Researchers have shown that artificial intelligence (AI) can identify people who are at risk for lung cancer based on genetic markers in their blood. "We have a simple blood test that could be done in a doctor's office that would tell patients whether they have potential signs of lung cancer and should get a follow-up CT scan," said corresponding author Dr. Victor Velculescu , co-director of the Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics program at Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center in Boston.

This so-called liquid biopsy could help identify patients who would need further screening, potentially boosting overall screening rates and preventing deaths, computer modeling shows. Lung cancer is the world's deadliest cancer, according to the World Health Organization. For the new study, researchers at Johns Hopkins and other institutions used AI to identify patterns in the blood of DNA fragments linked with lung cancer.

It included more than 950 people in 23 states who met criteria for screening with low-dose computed tomography (CT) scans. Yearly screening, which can help detect cancers early when they are most treatable, is recommended for high-risk individuals, including current and former smokers. Only between 6% and 10% of Americans who are eligible are screened each year.

Velculescu said people may avoid screening due to the time it takes and the low doses of radiation that the scan exposes them to during screening. So, he and his colleagues sp.