New Molecular 'Fingerprint' Technology Shows Promise for Early Cancer Detection

Researchers in Barcelona develop a method using ribosomal RNA modifications to identify cancer with near-perfect accuracy in early stages.

Scientists at the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) in Barcelona have identified unique molecular 'fingerprints' in ribosomal RNA (rRNA) that vary by tissue and disease state, including cancer.
The study focused on lung cancer, successfully distinguishing between healthy and cancerous tissue with near-perfect accuracy using these molecular signatures.
The breakthrough relies on nanopore direct RNA sequencing, a portable technology that scans RNA molecules in real time and preserves chemical modifications for analysis.
The method requires minimal tissue samples and could eventually be adapted for non-invasive blood tests to detect cancer in its early stages.
Further research is needed to validate the findings across diverse populations and cancer types, as well as to explore why these rRNA modifications change in cancer.