Indian scientists have developed a groundbreaking artificial intelligence framework named OncoMark that could significantly transform cancer diagnosis and treatment. Created by researchers at the S N Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences in collaboration with Ashoka University, the technology analyses cancer at its molecular level, enabling highly personalized treatment strategies.
Unlike traditional methods that rely mainly on cancer staging, OncoMark focuses on the hallmarks of cancer—the biological processes that allow tumours to grow, spread, and resist treatment. This deeper understanding helps explain why patients with the same stage of cancer often respond differently to therapy.
The team analysed 3.1 million cells from 14 cancer types and created synthetic models called pseudo-biopsies to map how cancer evolves. Through this dataset, the AI successfully identified aggressive tumour behaviour, even when it wasn’t visible clinically.
With an accuracy of over 99% in testing and above 96% in multiple global validations, OncoMark could soon assist doctors in predicting cancer progression more precisely and selecting the best personalised therapies for patients worldwide.
