Pattern Computer and the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) in the US have initiated a pilot study to evaluate the ProSpectral device for the detection of head, neck and lung cancers through saliva analysis.

The new study will utilise Pattern's ProSpectral device to scan saliva samples from patients at risk or already diagnosed with these cancers.

This multi-disease hyperspectral diagnostic tool will be employed at two speciality clinics within the Froedtert & MCW Cancer Network.

Pattern Computer’s AI-powered Pattern Discovery Engine will be used to analyse the scans to identify signatures indicative of cancer.

This research could significantly enhance early detection and diagnostic processes for cancer, particularly for high-risk groups.

The ProSpectral platform is a portable, reagent-free bench-top hyperspectral instrument designed to be used with clinical samples.

It aims to detect multiple diseases and, when combined with the Pattern Discovery Engine, can create predictive disease models with accuracy and speed.

The platform's AI and machine learning algorithms can interpret complex data patterns in seconds.

Pattern chair and CEO Mark Anderson said “Pattern is making significant advances in transforming healthcare and is driving innovation in the field of oncology.

“As we work towards transforming cancer treatment paradigms, we are looking to partner with firms to bring our combination cancer drug discoveries and diagnostic advances against the world’s top five cancers into clinical trials.”

Leading the study is MCW Cancer Center Clinical Research associate director Razelle Kurzrock, who is supported by Dr Hui Zi Chen and Dr Ann Maguire.

Dr Maguire oversees the Hereditary Cancer Risk Clinic while Dr Chen will spearhead the study at the Lung Cancer Clinic.