Birmingham Scientists Develop Groundbreaking Bladder Cancer Detection Method
Scientists at the University of Birmingham have developed a pioneering method to detect bladder cancer using epigenetic changes in urine DNA methylation. The technique, named D-GEX, uses a novel DNA sequencing technology to map methylation patterns, marking the first study of its kind.
The D-GEX method, developed by researchers at the University's Bladder Cancer Research Centre, can indicate the presence of cancer by analyzing methylation changes across the whole length of DNA in a urine sample. This approach can discriminate cancer from non-cancer patients, even with low levels of tumour DNA in urine samples. The team, whose work was published in Clinical Epigenetics, aims to develop Artificial Intelligence methods to classify patients based on their DNA methylation patterns for optimal treatment pathways. The data generated by this new approach is extensive, and the team is exploring the use of Artificial Intelligence to analyze it effectively.
The University of Birmingham's innovative D-GEX method holds great promise in improving cancer diagnosis. By harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence, the research team hopes to optimize treatment pathways based on individual patient DNA methylation patterns. Further research is underway to fully realize the potential of this groundbreaking technique.
