This innovative AI-driven diagnostic method is remarkably accessible, requiring only standard laboratory equipment to analyze blood samples and identify cancer indicators at an early stage, making it a promising solution for widespread adoption.
Researchers at Delhi’s Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology (IIIT-Delhi) have pioneered advanced AI tools for early cancer detection via a simple blood test, promising to revolutionize diagnosis and treatment accessibility across India.
Led by Prof Debarka Sengupta, a Computational Biology and Computer Science professor at IIIT-Delhi, the team has engineered a low-cost, scalable pan-cancer blood test. “We’ve created an affordable solution using AI to spot early-stage cancers by analyzing changes in Tumor Educated Platelets (TEPs)—abundant blood components that signal cancer even in Stages I and II. This works with basic lab setups, no need for specialized experts,” Prof Sengupta told The Tribune.
TEPs carry molecular signatures altered by tumors, enabling AI to pinpoint multiple cancer types from minimal blood samples. This offers a cheaper, non-invasive alternative to costly biopsies and scans.
The lab extends into single-cell genomics, using AI and big data to unravel cancer relapse mysteries. “Our scalable algorithms dissect massive single-cell data to map cancer heterogeneity—how malignant and immune cells interact and resist therapy. Our ‘cell algebra’ virtually adds/subtracts cell types, revealing lethal subtypes, explaining single-drug failures, and prioritizing treatments,” Prof Sengupta explained.
Further, AI models predict personalized drug responses by fusing genomics, chemical, imaging, and clinical data for tailored therapies.
Prof Sengupta sees India leading precision oncology: “With vast patient pools, cheap sequencing, biobanks, and digital health records, we’re at GeneSilico building generative AI that merges multi-omics, imaging, pathology, and clinic data to forecast responses—partnering with high-volume hospitals for transformative care.”
These breakthroughs position IIIT-Delhi as a leader in AI-powered oncology, democratizing early detection and precision medicine for millions in India and globally.