Madhurima
A recently conducted research has revealed that artificial intelligence can indeed detect AML (Acute Myeloid Leukaemia) which is also commonly known as ‘blood cancer’. The research which was conducted by the German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases i.e. DZNE became a part of the newly released edition of iScience journal.
The researchers discovered the following when they used the technique of gene activity analysis of the cells in which, the formation of a new gene is observed from the coding gene. A changing gene if observed can also lead to a change in the biological process. The cells that exist within the blood were studied. This method can lead to supporting standard diagnosis and quicken the therapy period for the disease.
Professor Joachim Schultze, who led the research mentioned, "Some studies have been carried out on this topic and the results are available through. Thus, there is an enormous data pool. We have collected virtually everything that is currently available."
‘Transcriptome’, which is the set of all the RNA molecules in one or in a group of cells and it’s relation with the genes was the prime focus of the study. In every cell there are only limited genes that are ‘activated’ and they later get exhibited in their gene activity profile. The data for the research was gathered from blood samples, thousands of spanning genes and their analysis.
"The transcriptome holds important information about the condition of cells. However, classical diagnostics is based on different data. We, therefore, wanted to find out what an analysis of the transcriptome can achieve using artificial intelligence, that is to say, trainable algorithms. In the long term, we intend to apply this approach to further topics, in particular in the field of dementia," Schultze added.
If not treated properly, the diagnosis of leukaemia can cause death in a few weeks. Researchers found out that the method of detecting AML through artificial intelligence could help with saving expenses and standard diagnosis.
"In principle, a blood sample taken by the family doctor and sent to a laboratory for analysis could suffice. I guess that the cost would be less than 50 euros. However, we have not yet developed a workable test. We have only shown that the approach works in principle. So we have laid the groundwork for developing a test," Schultze concluded.
Although leukaemia can be detected through several other methods, the researcher mentioned that the goal of the study was to offer the professionals a new advanced tool for the purpose of diagnosis.
