Cancer is now the leading cause of death in Canada. Two in five Canadians will develop cancer during their lifetime, and one in four will die from it. Every day, nearly 700 people across the country are diagnosed with cancer. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, the most commonly diagnosed cancers are lung, breast, prostate and colorectal cancer.

These figures mask a key reality: survival rates vary greatly depending on the type of cancer and, above all, how advanced it is at the time of diagnosis.

The statistical data clearly show that survival rates decrease when the cancer is detected early. These data highlight the urgent need to improve detection of the disease and, above all, to detect it earlier.

A blood test instead of a scalpel

This is the context where my research takes place. As a professor of systems engineering at ÉTS Montréal and principal investigator in the cancer research division at the CHUM Research Centre, I am working on liquid biopsy. This approach aims to detect cancer from a simple blood test by analyzing the DNA that tumour cells release into the bloodstream.

Unlike conventional biopsies, which require removing a tissue sample from the tumour, liquid biopsy relies on a simple, minimally invasive procedure: a blood test is all that’s needed.

The advantages of this approach include reduced pain, lower risks for the patient and less logistical burden associated with hospital procedures. The simplicity of the test also allows for more frequent testing. And........

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