HANOVER, N.H., Feb. 6 (UPI) -- Dartmouth University researchers said Friday they have developed a computer program that could help detect cancerous cells in the blood.
The program, called an algorithm, uses data from a mass spectrometer, a device that generates a molecular fingerprint of biological samples. The researchers said the program's calculations can distinguish healthy blood from diseased blood.
"Our algorithm detected ovarian cancer with virtually 100 percent accuracy and prostate cancer with approximately 95 percent accuracy," said doctoral candidate Ryan Lilien, the lead author on the paper. "Although we only tested against ovarian and prostate cancer, we think it's possible (it) may be used to test for other cancers and diseases."
