A New Type of Blood Cancer Diagnosis Developed in Israel

A team of Israeli scientists from the Weizmann Institute of Science, in collaboration with leading oncologists in the country, has developed a new method for diagnosing blood system cancer. A simple blood test will allow for the early detection of multiple myeloma and the selection of the most effective type of immunotherapy based on the unique genetic profile of malignant cells.

The method proposed by the scientists is based on single-cell RNA sequencing technology, which makes it possible to identify the genetic characteristics of cancer cells. They hope that in the future, within the framework of personalized medicine, this method can also be used for the diagnosis and targeted therapy of other oncological diseases.

The Insidiousness of Myeloma Disease

Multiple myeloma, or generalized plasmacytoma, belongs to the group of non-Hodgkin lymphomas and is the second most common form of blood system cancer. The disease, which affects the bone marrow, is characterized by the malignant transformation of plasma cells responsible for antibody production. By dividing uncontrollably and accumulating in excess, they eventually provoke problems with bones, the immune system, can lead to kidney failure, cause systemic failure in the body's functioning, and consequently – death.

Thanks to active research on this dangerous type of cancer and the emergence of new, advanced immunotherapy methods used in leading clinics in Israel, the previously high mortality rates from multiple myeloma have recently begun to decline. However, cases of complete remission are still rare.

Scientists and oncologists are still struggling with the problem of frequent relapses characteristic of myeloma disease: in most patients who have undergone treatment, cancer soon returns. Treatment difficulties are due to the extraordinary variability of the clinical manifestations of the disease, which leads to challenges in selecting the optimal therapeutic strategy, and the lack of effective early detection tools.

Now, thanks to the discovery by Israeli researchers, these problems may be resolved, increasing the survival of patients with multiple myeloma.

Painless Alternative to Bone Marrow Biopsy

Scientists propose using a personalized approach to the diagnosis and treatment of myeloma disease – they assure that this can be done by determining the individual genetic characteristics of malignant cells. Using single-cell RNA sequencing technology, the research team studied thousands of plasma cell samples taken from the blood and bone marrow of both healthy individuals and patients with multiple myeloma. As a result, they identified specific characteristics that distinguish healthy plasma cells from those that have undergone malignant transformation.

The method developed by the Israelis has two key advantages. The first and foremost is that it can recognize cancer cells even at minimal concentrations in the body, that is, at the zero stage – the stage of precancerous changes. At the same time, specialists note that early-stage myeloma does not always require treatment. In most cases, after informing the patient of the high risk of developing the disease, oncologists prefer to adopt a watchful waiting strategy with active monitoring. This approach is scientifically justified, as statistics show that within a year, only 1% of people with suspicious changes in the bone marrow develop myeloma disease.

At the same time, the new method is sensitive enough to determine which patients with zero-stage need to start treatment – and to select the optimal regimen considering the genetic characteristics of the cancer cells – and who can simply be monitored regularly by an oncologist.

The second significant advantage of the new diagnostic method is that it is a standard blood test. Previously, to make an accurate diagnosis, patients underwent an invasive and painful bone marrow biopsy procedure, which, among other things, carries the risk of complications.

A Revolution in Blood Cancer Diagnosis

Israeli scientists and doctors who authored the new method believe that their development will revolutionize the field of diagnosis and treatment of multiple myeloma. Until now, RNA sequencing technology for determining the genetic profile of individual cells has been used by only a few laboratories worldwide. According to the researchers, they have managed to expand its application possibilities, and in the near future, they hope the method will be used in medical centers around the world as a simple and accessible tool for diagnosing and monitoring precancerous changes, as well as effectively monitoring the health of individuals who have already undergone treatment to prevent the return of the disease.

They also claim that their technology will help scientists develop new, more effective immunotherapy methods based on the individual "genetic pattern" of malignant cells. And they hope that it can be used in the treatment of not only blood system cancer but also other types of oncology.

The authors of the new diagnostic method reported that they used artificial intelligence capabilities and analysis of large databases in its creation. According to them, this is precisely the direction in which the medicine of the future will develop. In the future, doctors will be able to monitor the course of the disease in real-time and develop an individual treatment plan for each patient based on the unique characteristics of malignant cells even before the first signs of the disease appear.