A new AI-powered sensor developed by researchers in South Korea is set to change how cancer is detected. Led by Dr. Ho Sang Jung at the Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS), this technology can find multiple cancers from a single urine sample in less than two hours. It offers a non-invasive, highly accurate alternative to traditional methods like blood tests and biopsies, promising a future of faster and earlier diagnosis for patients.
How the New Sensor Technology Works
The core of this innovation lies in special materials called plasmonic materials. When these materials come into contact with body fluids like urine or saliva, they can find tiny chemical traces left by cancer cells, known as cancer metabolites.
The sensor technology amplifies the optical signals from these metabolites by more than 100 million times. This massive amplification makes it possible to detect even the smallest signs of cancer that would otherwise be missed. An advanced artificial intelligence system then analyzes these powerful signals, identifying the specific biomarkers for different types of cancer with incredible precision.
This process is inspired by the acute sense of smell in dogs, which can often detect diseases in humans. The technology essentially mimics this natural ability but with far greater sensitivity and scientific accuracy.
From Colonoscopies to Saliva Samples
Before achieving the multi-cancer urine test, the team successfully applied their technology to specific cancers. In collaboration with Chonnam National University Hospital, they tested it on colorectal cancer patients. During a colonoscopy, a special plasmonic needle was used to swab the surface of a tumor without causing any bleeding. The AI could then analyze the sample on the spot, providing a non-invasive diagnosis right at the source.
The researchers also adapted the technology for lung cancer detection. They found that certain chemicals, called volatile organic compounds (VOCs), are present in the breath of lung cancer patients and dissolve in their saliva. By collecting saliva on a simple paper-based sensor, the team was able to distinguish between healthy individuals and lung cancer patients, and even categorize the stage of the cancer.
A Major Leap in Multi-Cancer Urine Testing
The most significant breakthrough came this year when the team successfully detected four different cancers from a single urine sample. In a study involving 250 patients, the AI-powered sensor analyzed urine to identify pancreatic, prostate, lung, and colorectal cancers. This achievement marks a new milestone in diagnostics.
The results from the urine test were both fast and remarkably accurate. This new method offers several key advantages over traditional diagnostics.
- High Accuracy: The test demonstrated clinical sensitivity and specificity rates exceeding 98%, making it highly reliable.
- Rapid Results: Patients and doctors can get the results in under two hours, a fraction of the time required for biopsies.
- Non-Invasive: A simple urine sample is all that is needed, eliminating the pain and risk associated with invasive procedures.
This user-friendly format makes it ideal for widespread screening, potentially catching cancers much earlier than current methods allow.
The Future of Non-Invasive Diagnostics
The research team has already filed 10 patents in Korea, the U.S., and Europe to protect their groundbreaking work. Their findings have been published in top scientific journals, adding to the credibility and excitement surrounding the technology.
Dr. Ho Sang Jung envisions a future where this AI sensor technology is not limited to just cancer. He believes it could be used to diagnose other complex conditions with hard-to-find markers, such as neurological disorders. The goal is to make this advanced diagnostic tool available worldwide, bridging the gap between cutting-edge research and everyday clinical use. With continued support and partnerships, this technology is poised to become a standard part of health checkups.
