DeepSummary
In this podcast episode, biomedical researcher Hani Goodarzi discusses his lab's discovery of a new class of RNA molecules called Oncarnas, which could potentially be used for early detection and understanding of cancer. Oncarnas are non-coding RNAs that are only expressed in cancer cells and not in healthy cells. Some of these Oncarnas are released into the bloodstream, creating a unique molecular barcode that can be used to detect and identify the type or subtype of cancer.
Using machine learning and AI, Goodarzi's team can reconstruct the complete Oncarna barcode from the partial barcode found in blood samples. This allows them not only to detect the presence of cancer but also to identify its type or subtype. In a preliminary study with 200 breast cancer patients, they were able to detect residual disease after treatment, helping clinicians determine which patients need additional treatment or monitoring.
Goodarzi believes that the next decade will be the decade of cancer screening, and his work on Oncarnas could lead to precise, sensitive, and accessible blood-based cancer detection, transforming our understanding of the disease.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Oncarnas are a new class of non-coding RNA molecules that are only expressed in cancer cells and not in healthy cells.
- Some Oncarnas are released into the bloodstream, creating a unique molecular barcode for different cancer types and subtypes.
- Using machine learning and AI, the complete Oncarna barcode can be reconstructed from the partial barcode found in blood samples.
- This technology could lead to a blood test for early detection and identification of cancer types or subtypes.
- Early cancer detection and understanding could save countless lives and transform cancer screening and treatment.
- Hani Goodarzi's research is a promising frontier in the field of cancer detection and understanding.
- The next decade is expected to be the decade of cancer screening, with blood-based detection being a major focus.
- Combining molecular biology and artificial intelligence could lead to significant advancements in cancer research and treatment.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “Catching cancer at its earliest stages, when it's most treatable, can save countless lives.“ by Hani Goodarzi
- “We have found a new class of RNAs that have changed how we think about cancer detection.“ by Hani Goodarzi
- “Thanks to the magic of machine learning and AI, we can actually use this partial information to reconstruct the original barcode that resides in the tumor, and we can match that reconstruction against our catalog of Oncarna barcodes across cancers, to not only detect the presence of the disease, but also identify its type or subtype.“ by Hani Goodarzi
- “I truly believe that the next decade is the decade of cancer screening. And as you can imagine, blood detection of cancers is a major frontier in that war.“ by Hani Goodarzi
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Episode Information
TED Talks Daily
TED
1/29/24
Catching cancer at its earliest stages saves lives. But in a body made up of trillions of cells, how do you spot a small group of rogue cancer cells? Biomedical researcher Hani Goodarzi discusses his lab's discovery of a new class of RNAs that, when paired with emerging AI tools, could help detect cancer earlier, more precisely and even through routine blood work — potentially transforming our understanding of the disease.