Researchers Develop AI Platform to Predict Breast Cancer Risk Through Cellular Mechanics
Researchers at City of Hope and the University of California, Berkeley have developed a novel AI platform that assesses breast cancer risk by analyzing the mechanical properties of human mammary epithelial cells. This platform, known as mechano-node-pore sensing (mechano-NPS), evaluates how individual breast cells deform and recover under stress, providing a 'mechanical age' that may indicate cancer susceptibility. The study, published in eBioMedicine, highlights that cells from women with higher mechanical ages are at increased risk for breast cancer. The researchers used a machine learning algorithm, MechanoAge, to estimate chronological age and a risk index, Mechano-RISQ, to quantify cancer risk. This approach could fill a critical gap in risk assessment, especially for women without known genetic predispositions. 
