Prevention and early detection
Cancer results from the accumulation of multiple alterations in the genome of an individual's cells. These alterations can occur spontaneously, be hereditary or be caused by exposure to mutagens. It is essential to prevent exposure to carcinogens and reinforce a person's natural defences to reduce the risk of cancer. The early detection of mutations and cancer cells increases the ability to fight the disease and to apply the best therapies as early as possible. The following datasets relate to patent documents for early detection of cancer and for preventing its development. More details regarding each of the technologies listed below, as well as the patenting activity in these areas, can be found in our study on cancer technologies and patents (February 2024).
Safe environment and food
The following datasets provide patent documents relating to food technologies and agriculture. Food technologies reinforce the natural defences of organisms to prevent and fight the early development of cancer by providing nutritional supplements. Technologies in food production and agriculture reduce exposure to carcinogens that are found in food and the environment.
Methods for preparing/treating food that lower the content of carcinogens
Processed food is a source of chemicals that have the potential to act as mutagens that can cause cancer. This dataset contains technologies that reduce the content of carcinogens in food products.
Food components that reduce the risk of cancer
A healthy diet can prevent the development of cancer by reinforcing the body's natural defences. The following compounds are used in foods or as nutritional supplements to reduce cancer risk.
Amino acids, peptides and proteins
Reducing the use of pesticides in agriculture
Pesticides and herbicides are used in agriculture to improve raw food yield and quality. However, they may contain carcinogens that increase cancer risk when applied to fields, crops and/or foodstuffs. This dataset provides patent documents for plants that mitigate the need for pesticides.
Instruments for early diagnostics
Regular screening and early detection are essential to identify cancer at its earliest stage. Imaging of the body is performed to detect early signs of the disease. The following datasets provide patent documents for optical and non-optical body-imaging instruments and technologies.
Fluorescent/near-infrared imaging
Photoacoustic, optoacoustic imaging
Early tests and diagnostics
Early tests can also be performed on small tissue/blood samples to detect the presence of viral oncogenes, e.g. cancer-causing papillomavirus, cellular mutations or tumour cells. The following datasets relate to minimally invasive technologies for detecting nucleic acids, proteins or cells.
Analysis of nucleic acids
By swabbing material from the cervix
By taking a blood sample and detecting methylation of nucleic acid
By taking a blood sample and detecting nucleic acid of circulating tumour cells
By taking a blood sample and detecting nucleic acid from a single tumour cell
Analysis of cells and proteins using (immuno)staining techniques
Cells obtained by fine-needle aspiration
Cells obtained by swabbing from the cervix
Cells obtained by taking a sample of a body fluid
Single cells obtained by taking a sample of a body fluid
Proteins in a sample of a body fluid
Analysis of proteins in a sample of a body fluid using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
Analysis by mass spectrometry of cancer biomarkers in a sample of a body fluid
Contribution of artificial intelligence to sample analysis
Bioinformatics and artificial intelligence (AI) can help early cancer detection thanks to the training of models and machine learning. This dataset identifies patent documents in the field of AI as applied to the analysis of results from early tests and diagnostics.
Preventing cancer through vaccination
Oncogenic viruses have been associated with the development of certain tumours, for example papillomavirus has been linked to cervical cancer. Viral infection is a significant contributor to the prevalence of cancer globally, and vaccines preventing infection with specific viruses can prevent the development of certain cancers. The following datasets provide patent documents for cancer prevention based on oncogenic virus antigen(s) that elicit an antiviral immune response.
HPV antigen(s) to elicit an anti-cervical-cancer immune response
Hepatitis B virus antigen(s) to elicit an anti-liver-cancer immune response