Daijiworld Media Network- Boston

Boston, Sep 10: A new liquid biopsy test called HPV-DeepSeek could revolutionize early detection of HPV-associated head and neck cancers, according to researchers from Mass General Brigham. The study, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, suggests that the test can identify cancer up to 10 years before symptoms appear.

Unlike cervical cancers, which have established HPV screening methods, head and neck cancers caused by HPV often go undetected until tumors are large and have spread to lymph nodes. HPV-DeepSeek uses whole-genome sequencing to detect microscopic fragments of HPV DNA released into the bloodstream by tumors.

In initial tests, the tool demonstrated high specificity and sensitivity, detecting HPV DNA in 22 of 28 blood samples from patients who later developed cancer, while all control samples tested negative. Using machine learning, researchers further enhanced the test, correctly identifying 27 out of 28 cancer cases, including samples collected up to 10 years prior to diagnosis.

Lead authors say that early detection could allow for less intensive treatment regimens and higher success rates. A second blinded study funded by the NIH is underway, using samples from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial (PLCO) to validate these findings.

Researchers hope HPV-DeepSeek could become a game-changer in cancer prevention, providing a screening tool for one of the fastest-growing HPV-related cancers in the United States.