Researchers Unveil AI Blood Test to Track Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Faster

The test, known as ARTEMIS-DELFI, uses artificial intelligence to analyze fragments of DNA circulating in the bloodstream, identifying patterns that signal early treatment responses.

In a significant development in cancer diagnostics, researchers at Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center have introduced a new AI-powered blood test capable of rapidly assessing whether treatments for pancreatic cancer are working, weeks ahead of traditional methods.

The test, known as ARTEMIS-DELFI, uses artificial intelligence to analyze fragments of DNA circulating in the bloodstream, identifying patterns that signal early treatment responses.

Unlike conventional imaging scans or other molecular blood tests, this AI-driven method can provide insights as early as four weeks into treatment, a crucial advantage in managing one of the deadliest forms of cancer.

“We want to know as quickly as we can if the therapy is helping the patient or not. If it is not working, we want to be able to switch to another therapy,” said Dr Victor E Velculescu, senior author of the study and co-director of the Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics Program at Johns Hopkins.

The AI test was evaluated in two clinical trials, CheckPAC and PACTO, where it was compared with standard imaging and existing blood-based markers. ARTEMIS-DELFI outperformed both, offering earlier and more reliable predictions of treatment response.

Unlike some other approaches, such as WGMAF, which require tumor tissue for comparison, ARTEMIS-DELFI operates solely on blood samples. It leverages machine learning to detect changes in the size and distribution of DNA fragments in the bloodstream, simplifying the process while expanding its potential reach in clinical practice.

“The ‘fast-fail’ ARTEMIS-DELFI approach may be particularly useful in pancreatic cancer,” said Carolyn Hruban, lead author of the study and now a postdoctoral researcher at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. “It's simpler, likely less expensive, and more broadly applicable than using tumor samples.”

The research team plans to pursue prospective studies to test whether the AI-powered test can help clinicians tailor cancer treatments more effectively. Similar AI-based blood tests are also showing promise in monitoring other cancers, including colon cancer, signaling broader potential for AI-driven diagnostics in oncology.

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