J Med Eng Technol. 2026 Jul 9:1-16. doi: 10.1080/03091902.2026.2698512. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Reliable differentiation between cancer and non-cancer states using minimally invasive approaches remains a significant challenge. Most currently available biomarkers are cancer-type specific and may not capture systemic alterations associated with malignancy. This study evaluates the feasibility of microwave-assisted thermal profiling of blood as a method to distinguish cancer from non-cancer conditions. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted involving 232 participants (87 cancer patients and 145 non-cancer individuals). A custom-built device was used to perform microwave heating of 0.5 mL venous blood samples. Temperature rise patterns were recorded using an infra-red thermal imager. Key parameters, including the time taken to reach the maximum temperature and maximum gradient time, temperature increase and rate of temperature increase, were extracted and statistically analysed. Significant differences in thermal profiles between cancer and non-cancer groups were observed. Cancer patients exhibited a higher Gradient time ratio (GTR) and lower Zblood value, which indicates an alteration in thermal profile of blood due to cancer. The non-probabilistic prediction rule achieved 96.10 accuracy, with a sensitivity of 96.54 and specificity of 95.86. The microwave-based thermal profiling method demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy and has the potential to serve as a reliable cancer biomarker. Further validation in larger cohorts is required.
PMID:42422931 | DOI:10.1080/03091902.2026.2698512
