Indian labs are innovating cancer care
Indian researchers have developed an AI framework called ACSCeND to better detect rare cancer stem-like cells that cause tumor recurrence. This technology combines single-cell sequencing with deep learning to identify different cellular states, potentially improving treatment precision.
Why it matters
Improving the detection of cancer stem cells could significantly reduce tumor recurrence rates and minimize the side effects of traditional chemotherapy.
Cancer cells are like thieves. They are capable of adapting to micro-environmental pressures, evade surveillance and resist treatment. They can disguise themselves or switch between observable states. But the difficulty in detecting them is only half the problem for medical science. The other half is with treatments that harm healthy tissues too, leaving patients feeling worn out.
Research institutes under the Department of Science and Technology have published two separate studies to introduce an artificial intelligence (AI) framework that helps identify cancer ‘stem-like’ cells responsible for tumour recurrence, and a small-molecule candidate that can selectively release compounds within cancer cells while leaving non-malignant tissue unharmed.
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