Northwestern University in Illinois, US, has announced a new method for detecting RNA modification patterns in blood samples that could enhance early colon cancer detection. 

This was detailed in a study published in Nature Biotechnology. 

Wei Zhang, a professor at Northwestern University’s division of cancer epidemiology and prevention, co-authored the research, along with research assistant professor Xiaolong Cui. 

Their new approach leverages molecular signals in the blood, offering a non-invasive alternative to traditional methods such as colonoscopies.