Cancer is not always loud in its early days. Before any symptoms arise or tumours appear on scans, molecular changes start occurring within cells. These changes include altered gene expression, abnormal RNA data, and fusion genes, all of which are early indicators of cancerous transformation. For any patient, detecting these early events becomes very important, as early intervention is often more effective and less invasive. And one of the most powerful tools to uncover these early changes is RNA sequencing!
We are bringing you this article to explore how RNA sequencing analysis can help early cancer detection, the unique advantages it offers over DNA-based methods, and how we at Uncoded are helping bring RNA-seq into routine clinical practice.
What Is RNA Sequencing And How Does It Work?
RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) is a lab technique that helps scientists and doctors understand what genes are actively being used in a cell at a specific time. RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) is a powerful tool that looks at the RNA molecules inside a cell. In cancer, the activity being used by the cell can show some signals, which are earlier detected by RNA than by DNA. Here is how the whole process works in steps:
Step 1: A small tissue sample or blood sample (liquid biopsy) is taken from the patient.
Step 2: Scientists then extract RNA from the sample, which could include messenger RNA (mRNA), fusion transcripts, and other types.
Step 3: Now, since RNA is fragile, it is converted into complementary DNA (cDNA) so it can be sequenced more reliably.
Step 4: High-throughput sequencing reads millions of cDNA fragments to build a detailed map of what genes are being expressed.
Step 5: Advanced bioinformatics tools are then used to analyze the data to detect any irregularities.
This can help in early cancer detection as RNA sequencing can help catch these changes by:
- Spotting gene expression change, RNA-Seq can detect when certain genes are turned on too much or not enough. These patterns can often correlate with specific cancers.
- Detecting RNA fusions can help identify cancers like leukemia, sarcomas, and some lung cancers.
- Using blood samples means we don’t always need invasive surgery to investigate, as tumour-derived RNA fragments found in plasma can hint at cancer activity early on.
Why RNA over DNA For Early Cancer Detection?
There is no doubt that DNA sequencing is valuable for identifying genetic mutations. However, it does not provide information about the gene activity. And well, many early-stage cancers do not yet present detectable DNA mutations but do show changes in RNA expression. This is one of the top reasons that make RNA a more sensitive biomarker for early detection.
Here Are The Advantages of RNA Over DNA in Early Detection:
- Real-Time Expression Data: RNA can reflect active biological processes, which then allows clinicians to see which genes are upregulated or silenced.
- Fusion Gene Detection: One of the key benefits of RNA sequencing is its ability to detect fusion transcripts that are a result of chromosomal rearrangements. These are also one of the early detectors of cancer.
- Splice Variant Identification: Abnormal splicing patterns are common in cancer and are easily detected through RNA-Seq.
Basically, if we put it in simple words, then through RNA fusion detection and gene expression profiling, clinicians can identify malignancies or cancerous growths at an early stage. This stage can even be before structural DNA changes are apparent.
How Does It Help Clinicians?
Uncoded offers an approach of targeted RNA sequencing analysis tools, which are designed to enhance cancer diagnostics and research. We offer RNA-based panels, like the Myeloid Profiler RNA Panel, which is specifically built to help detect clinically relevant RNA fusions. Where is this important? This plays a huge role in blood cancers like AML, MDS, and ALL, where early signs can be subtle and easy to miss.
These tests go beyond the surface-level mutations by picking up on gene expression patterns and fusion events. Our RNA fusion detection capabilities allow clinicians and researchers to spot abnormalities that might not show up in standard tests. This technique can be very helpful when a DNA panel does not tell the full story and RNA gives you another layer of data-driven insight. And no, we do not stop at testing! What makes Uncoded stand out is the technology behind the scenes: advanced bioinformatics pipelines that process complex data and deliver results that are actually usable. So our tests are meant for both clinical diagnostics and research, which means they’re built for accuracy, speed, and practical application in real healthcare settings. So if you are looking at the benefits of RNA sequencing, then we are offering sharp, targeted solutions that are both reliable and accessible.
Uncoded’s Role In Making RNA-Seq Accessible
While RNA-Seq has traditionally been used in research settings, its clinical adoption has been limited by cost, complexity, and data interpretation challenges. But not anymore, because Uncoded addresses these barriers by offering targeted RNA panels that help to streamline the process and give you actionable insights.
Our Myeloid Profiler RNA Panel is designed for targeted RNA sequencing analysis of hematologic malignancies. This tool can detect over 75 clinically relevant fusion transcripts associated with conditions such as:
- Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
- Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)
- Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)
This panel offers:
- High-sensitivity RNA fusion detection
- Rapid turnaround times
- Clinically validated targets
- Compatibility with liquid biopsy and bone marrow samples
Here, you also get computational pipelines for RNA sequencing analysis, which ensures that clinicians receive clear, data-driven reports. Also, another benefit of Uncoded’s approach is that it is affordable. It is because we focus on targeted panels rather than whole transcriptome sequencing that we can deliver the benefits while maintaining cost-efficiency.
Conclusion
RNA sequencing is revolutionizing cancer diagnostics, as it focuses on what’s actively happening inside cells. This way, one can detect the early changes that can otherwise go unnoticed, especially if they were to be looked at through the DNA. So whether it is identifying fusion genes, abnormal splicing, or shifts in expression patterns, RNA fusion detection and RNA seq fusion detection provide actionable insights when it matters the most.
Explore our Myeloid Profiler RNA Panel and see how Uncoded is making RNA-Seq accessible, affordable, and actionable.