In a recent article by Kimberly D'Ardenne researchers at Sandford University have found a way to analyze the RNA molecules in a patients bloodstream called "cell-free RNA" to detect cancer treatment, resistance, and tissue injury from a single blood draw.
Unlike traditional DNA-based liquid biopsies this test focuses on mRNA fragments circulating in the bloodstream, offering a new way to monitor diseases that don't involve genetic mutations. It accurately detected lung cancer in 73% of patients, even in its early stages by analyzing about 5,000 genes not typically found in healthy blood. This test can also be used to identify non-genetic forms of treatment resistance giving doctors a chance to adjust treatment options before symptoms appear. Remarkably it works on both new and archived blood samples with the potential to to transform how we detect and treat diseases in the future. As co-author Dr. Maximilian Diehn put it, "We're reading the molecular history of the body - from just a blood sample."
Article: https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2025/04/rna-blood-test-cancer-detection.html
Journal Article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08834-1
This is very interesting, and hopefully can be a utilized tool in modern medicine. All of the recent genetic advances regarding cancer diagnosis and treatment has a lot of promise for the future of these diseases.
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