Scientists have developed a new method for accurately predicting gene changes that cause lung cancer, without the need for slower, more expensive lab techniques, according to a Jul. 13 announcement.
The technology was able to identify specific genetic changes with high accuracy, offering a potentially faster, more efficient and cheaper testing option than traditional methods. The findings have the potential to accelerate testing for lung cancer patients and help doctors identify appropriate treatments more quickly.
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Some lung cancers carry specific DNA genetic changes, such as mutations in the EGFR gene, which can determine whether patients would benefit from targeted treatments. Detecting these mutations currently requires laboratory tests like gene sequencing that are expensive, time-consuming and use up valuable tissue from small biopsy samples. With limited availability of tissue samples, there is a need for non-invasive approaches to identify EGFR mutations.
Researchers from the University of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian have developed a new approach using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) to predict EGFR mutations without genetic testing or tissue staining. The technology captures natural light signals from tissue samples that are then analyzed by artificial intelligence for patterns. In their study, this method was able to predict the presence of EGFR mutations with very high accuracy and could also distinguish between two common types of EGFR mutations important for treatment decisions.
Expanded lung cancer screening programmes are increasingly detecting suspected cancers at earlier stages, placing pressure on diagnostic pathways to deliver fast results from limited tissue samples. Experts say this new approach could speed up diagnosis while preserving biopsy material because it uses untreated tissue that remains available for further analysis.
Professor Ahsan Akram, co-lead of the study from the Institute for Regeneration and Repair, said: "This is a significant step towards a future where a single, non-destructive fluorescence scan of a biopsy could quickly inform clinicians whether a patient has cancer, what type of cancer they have and now, with this work, if it is likely to respond to targeted treatment, helping to ensure the right treatment reaches the right patient more quickly." Dr. Qiang Wang, co-lead of the study from the Institute for Regeneration and Repair, said: "This approach has the potential to take processes that currently cost thousands of pounds and require weeks of lab work and reduce them to something that takes minutes and costs hundreds. That is a step change in what is clinically achievable, particularly for centres and health systems where access to complex molecular testing is limited."
