Rapid epigenomic classification of acute leukemia

Tuesday 07 October 2025 08:00 [PDT] 11:00 [EDT] 16:00 [BST] Alternative time zones Unlock the potential for faster, more comprehensive leukemia characterization with this webinar from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute expert Salvatore Benfatto. Acute leukemia (AL) is an aggressive form of blood cancer that requires precise molecular classification and urgent treatment. However, standard-of-care diagnostic tests are time- and resource-intensive and do not capture the full spectrum of AL heterogeneity, making diagnosis and basic research investigations into AL a challenge. Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (MA, USA) have developed MARLIN (methylation and AI-guided rapid leukemia subtype inference), a machine learning tool currently for research use only that enables the rapid classification of acute leukemia using real-time DNA methylation data generated by Oxford Nanopore sequencing. In both retrospective and prospective studies, Oxford Nanopore sequencing enabled MARLIN to deliver accurate molecular subtyping within two hours. This approach highlights the potential of nanopore technology to support faster, more comprehensive leukemia characterization.