Small and overlooked: Amount of repetitive DNA in blood hints at cancer early.

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center have discovered that people with cancer have different amounts of repetitive DNA, called Alu elements, in their blood compared to those without cancer. Using machine learning, the researchers developed a test that can measure the amount of Alu elements in a blood sample, which can help detect cancer early. The test showed promising results, with a 98.9% specificity rate, and was able to catch 41% of cancer cases missed by existing biomarkers. This research provides a cost-effective and enhanced method for early cancer detection. [Extracted from the article]