This podcast episode unveils the discovery of orphan non-coding RNAs (oncRNAs), a novel type of RNA associated with cancer that holds immense potential for non-invasive cancer detection, classification, and monitoring. OncRNAs provide a digital molecular barcode that reflects the tumor's biology and offers insights into cancer's mechanisms. Utilizing machine learning and AI, partial oncRNA barcodes found in blood samples can be reconstructed to provide accurate cancer diagnostics. This groundbreaking approach aims to revolutionize cancer screening by enabling early detection and real-time monitoring through a simple blood test.
