AI-Powered Blood Test May Revolutionise Cancer Detection in Hong Kong
Affordable cancer screening could be available in Hong Kong within three years, as artificial intelligence (AI) advances make early tumour detection faster and more efficient, according to Professor Dennis Lo Yuk-ming, a pioneer in prenatal testing.
Lo, who developed a groundbreaking prenatal test for Down syndrome, said AI helps researchers identify patterns in gene fragments found in blood plasma. This innovation is transforming epigenetics, the study of non-mutation effects on genes.
His team at the Centre for Novostics at the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park has developed an AI system based on the Convolutional Neural Network, a deep learning model primarily used for image recognition. The system also incorporates transformer neural network architecture, inspired by generative AI tools such as ChatGPT.
Despite challenges in accessing high-performance AI chips due to US restrictions, Lo said his team has built a robust system over the years. "With the difficulty in getting the latest generation of Nvidia chips, we just have to try other chipmakers that can still provide what we need," he said.
Lo’s research focuses on early cancer detection using a method similar to his prenatal testing breakthrough. His team first targeted nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC), a throat tumour prevalent in southern China’s Guangdong province.
In 2013, Lo developed a test to detect NPC in blood plasma by identifying its link to the Epstein-Barr virus. After analysing 20,000 samples over four years, a study concluded in July 2023 that screening for the virus significantly improved early detection, reducing the mortality rate from 40% to 3.7%. The test is now available in Hong Kong for HKD 1,500 (USD 192.5).
"Even though Hong Kong’s healthcare system is pretty good, 75% of nasopharyngeal cancer was detected late before the new test was introduced," Lo said.
AI has expanded the potential for detecting other cancers, even those not linked to viruses. "The discovery of each mutation was like hunting one thing out of a million," Lo said.
Lo founded Cirina in Hong Kong after developing the NPC test. In 2017, Cirina merged with California-based Grail, which specialises in cancer detection. The merged company created the Galleri test, capable of screening for over 50 types of virus-related cancers. Time magazine named it one of the Best Inventions of 2022.
Grail was acquired by biotechnology giant Illumina in 2021 for USD 8 billion. However, its multi-cancer test is only available in the US for USD 949 (HKD 7,380) and is not covered by most healthcare plans.
Lo’s team is working on a more affordable version for mainland China and global markets. Novostics has developed Fragma, a test that detects DNA fragments of lung cancer and liver carcinoma in blood plasma and urine.
In 2023, Lo launched Insighta, a USD 200 million venture with Nasdaq-listed Prenetics Group, to commercialise Fragma tests. Tencent Holdings invested USD 30 million in Insighta in October 2023, valuing the start-up at USD 200 million.
Insighta, based at the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, is conducting large-scale clinical trials of the Fragma process in Hong Kong and mainland China. The company aims to offer the test for USD 200 (HKD 1,565).
Some tests, such as the one for liver cancer, could be available within two to three years. "If we want to do it in a more resource-challenged environment, we need the technology to be cheaper," Lo said.
AI-driven blood tests could make cancer screening more affordable in Hong Kong within three years.
Professor Dennis Lo’s team developed an AI system to detect cancer through gene fragments in blood plasma.
A test for nasopharyngeal cancer reduced mortality rates from 40% to 3.7% and is available in Hong Kong.
Source: SCMP