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Smarter medicine thanks to AI and algorithms
Professor Antonio Giordano, Director of the SHRO and Sbarro institute for Cancer Research, Temple University, a center of excellence for cancer research based in Philadelphia and founded by him in 1993 with a recently opened laboratory in Turin, Italy, says: "In oncology we will be able to make a diagnosis based on original genetic traits”.
A correct use of AI in oncology could bring an advantage in the fight against cancer. For example, in the identification of certain DNA mutations, of which we know the entire sequence, explains Prof. Giordano, who is also professor of Pathological Anatomy and Histology at the University of Siena.
Some genetic mutations are already present in many normal cells located near a tumor, says Giordano. An algorithm has allowed the detection of early genetic changes in benign tissues through the innovative technique of spatial transcriptomics. Ultimately, by perfecting the use of AI, we will be able to reach early diagnoses based on underlying genetic traits in a context where research achievements have positively increased the “lifespan" in the oncology field as in fact today we can simultaneously study thousands of genes and monitor their expression and related factors for designing personalized therapies for patients for precision medicine. Furthermore, non-invasive diagnostic tools have been developed for some tumors as liquid biopsies are used to monitor a pathology through a simple blood sample, analyzing the molecular characteristics of tumor cells or the circulating DNA. In this contest, research conducted at SHRO on the identification of diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic markers can make a difference. As stated by Prof. Giordano, “new targeted therapeutic strategies can be identified by studying precise molecular alterations, for example, in mesothelioma or lung cancer, whose etiology is linked to exposure to environmental pollutants. It is no coincidence that, for years, I have been interested in the situation in Campania, better known as the Land of the fire, encouraging biomonitoring studies and requalification activities to reduce the incidence of diseases”. Factors to also monitor are impact of nutrition and new Sars-Cov2 virus strains "Studies are only apparently disconnected from each other but the common aim is to improve the quality of life in patients and reduce the occurrence of severe pathologies.
Professor Antonio Giordano, M.D., Ph.D., is the creator and head of the Sbarro Health Research Organization, located at Temple University's College of Science and Technology in Philadelphia. Stay connected with him through his various social media platforms, including Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram, to receive the latest updates.
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