Oncology

Comprehensive Summary

This study proposes a neural-multitask learning (N-MTL) framework, OncoMark, to predict the activity of all core cancer hallmarks for tumor profiling, using transcriptomic data from tumor biopsies. Single-cell RNA sequencing (ScRNA-seq) data were used to create synthetic bulk transcriptomic profiles and were then fed into a multi-task learning (MTL) framework capable of recognizing heterogeneous biopsy transcriptomes, which are those representing more than one hallmark. Transcriptomic profiles were taken from 941 tumors spanning 14 tissue types, with validation of the model on five external datasets demonstrating high generalizability and accuracy. Additionally, the ability of OncoMark to detect hallmark activity associated with metastatic progression was evaluated using primary tumor samples. Results of the evaluation include higher reports of the Activating Invasion and Metastasis hallmark across the samples, suggesting OncoMark’s ability to capture biologically relevant signatures indicating early metastatic competence. Thus, OncoMark is proposed as a novel computational approach to predict all hallmarks of cancer and as a clinical tool to diagnose tumor aggressiveness, design personalized care, and predict patient outcomes.

Outcomes and Implications

The framework proposed in the paper, OncoMark, has significant implications for precision oncology and therapy design, demonstrating diverse clinical relevance to a variety of tumor types. By identifying cancer hallmarks, clinicians gain greater insight into the molecular profiles of a tumor rather than through anatomical characteristics and traditional staging methods, allowing for the early identification of aggressive or resistant tumors. Additionally, the determination of a tumor as heterogeneous is beneficial for precision oncology by tailoring treatment in regard to the hallmarks presented. Overall, OncoMark has potential to advance therapy design, enhance prognostication, and improve patient outcomes.

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AIIM Research

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© 2025 AIIM. Created by AIIM IT Team

AIIM Research

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© 2025 AIIM. Created by AIIM IT Team

AIIM Research

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© 2025 AIIM. Created by AIIM IT Team