22:33, 31 December 2025

An Algorithm for Early Cancer Detection Is Being Developed in Russia

A smart module will analyze medical records of patients with thyroid disorders and track potential abnormalities in test results.

Researchers at Penza State University are developing a module for a medical information system. It will be based on an algorithm designed to help prevent the development of breast cancer.

“Scientists have found that thyroid disorders directly affect specific breast receptors detected in breast cancer, as well as the Ki-67 protein. Abnormalities in these markers are a precursor to malignant tumor development,” the university’s press service said.

Monitoring Thyroid Health

The researchers analyzed the medical histories of 120 patients from Penza and the Penza region who had been diagnosed with thyroid disorders and breast cancer.

Some of the patients had thyroid problems. The scientists examined three periods: before diagnosis, during treatment, and the long-term period after remission. This made it possible to identify a link between pathological conditions of the thyroid gland and the development of malignant tumors in the breast.

“In most of the cases we studied, we observed the following pattern: prolonged elevation of the T4 hormone, even before a cancer diagnosis, was associated with increased Ki-67 receptor levels. This marker reflects the proliferative activity of tumor cells – that is, their ability to multiply,” said Vladislav Vasiliev, a postgraduate researcher and senior lecturer at Penza State University.

Based on the study results, the team developed an algorithm that establishes a link between changes in thyroid hormone levels and the potential expression of breast tissue receptors. This will allow physicians not only to track changes in one organ, but also to anticipate irreversible processes in another. The algorithm may also help select more effective treatments for different subtypes of breast tumors.

Early Diagnosis

The development will be integrated with the regional medical information and analytics system Promed in the Penza region. The smart module will analyze medical records of patients with thyroid disorders and monitor potential abnormalities in test results.

The next step is to create a full software module based on the developed algorithm. Artificial intelligence will be used to further train the model. The module will automatically track test results and examinations uploaded into the system. In the longer term, the software is expected to be officially registered as a computer program.

Medicine and healthcare