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AI Framework Detects Hidden Cancer Stem-Like Cells

  • 13 Aug 2026

In August 2026, scientists from the S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences (SNBNCBS) and Ashoka University developed an AI-based framework to identify rare cancer stem-like cell populations that may contribute to tumour recurrence, metastasis and treatment resistance.

Key Points

  • Three Cell States: The framework identifies three developmental states of cancer stem-like cells — pluripotent-like, multipotent-like and unipotent-like.
  • AI and Bulk RNA Sequencing: ACSCeND combines information from high-resolution single-cell sequencing with deep learning to analyse conventional bulk tumour RNA sequencing data.
  • Cancer Outcomes: Tumours with higher levels of highly potent, pluripotent-like cancer stem cells were associated with poorer survival, higher recurrence risk and reduced response to modern immunotherapies.
  • Treatment Resistance: The analysis identified molecular programmes that may help cancer stem-like cells survive treatment, adapt to changing conditions and evade the immune system.
  • OncoMark Platform: The research builds on the team’s earlier AI platform, OncoMark, which was developed to study biological processes involved in cancer progression.