Could an easy saliva test help diagnose different types of cancer in the future?

• The global number of cancer cases is expected to hit 28.4 million by 2040.
• For most cancers, early detection and treatment can provide better outcomes.
• Researchers from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden have found that structural changes in sugar molecules that occur in cancer cells can help identify specific types of cancers.
• Scientists believe this research could eventually be used to develop a blood or saliva test for detecting cancer.

In 2020, about 19.3 million new cases of cancer were diagnosed around the world, and that number is expected to reach 28.4 million cases by 2040.

Although there are currently no cures for any type of cancer, for most cancers the earlier it is detected and treated, the better the outcome. For this reason, scientists are constantly exploring new ways to identify cancer quickly.

Contributing to this effort, a team of researchers from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, has recently found that structural changes in sugar molecules called glycans that occur in cancer cells can help identify specific types of cancer.

Scientists believe that with the help of artificial intelligence (AI), this research could eventually be used to develop a blood or saliva test for detecting cancer.

This study was recently published in the journal Cell Reports Methods.