FLIM predicts EGFR mutations in lung cancer

Researchers from the University of Edinburgh and United Kingdom — NHS Lothian have developed a new method using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) combined with artificial intelligence to predict EGFR mutations in lung cancer from biopsy samples without genetic testing or tissue staining. The technique, published in Cancer Research, accurately identified EGFR mutations and distinguished between common subtypes, potentially reducing diagnosis time from weeks to minutes and costs from thousands to hundreds of pounds. The team is working toward clinical validation and extension to other cancer types.