RNA liquid biopsy via nanopore sequencing for novel biomarker discovery and cancer early detection
Using Oxford Nanopore sequencing, Peddu and Hill et al. profiled full-length cell-free RNA from blood plasma and uncovered over 270,000 novel transcripts — far beyond the reach of short-read methods. Utilising machine learning models, the team classified early stage oesophageal cancer and precancer with 100% sensitivity and specificity, demonstrating the potential of nanopore sequencing as a non-invasive tool for early cancer detection and monitoring.
'Here we show that nanopore sequencing can be leveraged to comprehensively characterize the vast, unannotated cell-free RNA transcriptome across healthy, precancerous, and cancerous disease states'
Peddu and Hill et al. 2025
Sample type: cell-free RNA from blood plasma
