Cancer’s Hidden Barcode: OncRNA Signatures Map Tumor Identity and Treatment Response

Researchers mapped hundreds of thousands of cancer-specific small RNAs (oncRNAs) that act as digital barcodes to identify cancer type, subtype, and aggressiveness. Many oncRNAs are secreted into blood, enabling a simple serum test to monitor treatment response and predict survival. The work blended large-scale genome analysis, machine learning, mouse experiments, and data from nearly 200 breast cancer patients, finding about 5% of oncRNAs can drive tumor growth. The discovery points to a new, blood-based approach for real-time cancer monitoring and personalized therapy, with ongoing development in collaboration with Exai Bio.