CNU Researchers Develop AI to Improve Cancer Treatment
- Seoyoung Kang
- Apr 25
- 2 min read
Apr 25, 2026
A research team led by Professor Yoo Sunyong of the College of Engineering at Chonnam National University(CNU) announced on the 20th that they have developed a technology. It uses artificial intelligence (AI) to predict why cancer patients respond differently to drugs. They developed an AI technology that precisely predicts drug-induced transcriptional responses.
Transcriptional response is data indicating how gene expression changes when a drug acts on a cell. It is measured at the RNA level and shows which genes are turned on and off. When a drug enters a cell, its activity patterns change. Some genes become more active, while others are suppressed. This change is called a transcriptional response to the drug. This is why the response varies from patient to patient, even when receiving the same anticancer drug. Because each person has slightly different genes, the changes the drug induces within the cell also differ.
This research utilizes an AI-based method to analyze how genes change when a specific drug enters a cell. At the same time, considering various conditions such as the type and concentration of the drug, treatment time, and cell type, the research team was able to identify the best treatment suited for each patient in advance. Previous studies reflected only cell lines or drug structures separately or made predictions under a single condition. However, the Chonnam National University study models complex conditions simultaneously, making it closer to actual patient situations.
This research was led by researcher Kim Chaewon of the Department of Intelligent Electronics and Computer Engineering at Chonnam National University, and the results were accepted for publication in the international academic journal Bioinformatics. This journal is a prestigious publication that ranks in the top 8.7% globally in bioinformatics.
