Tezpur (Assam), January 10, 2026: Scientists at Tezpur University have identified unique chemical signatures in blood that could help detect gallbladder cancer early, even in patients without a history of gallstones. The discovery may lead to simpler, non-invasive tests for this aggressive cancer.

The study highlights blood-based “metabolic signatures” as potential biomarkers, according to a university statement. Gallbladder cancer is among the deadliest gastrointestinal cancers and ranks as the third most common in Northeast India. It often remains undetected until advanced stages.

While gallstones are a known risk factor, not all patients with gallstones develop cancer, and many cases occur without gallstone history. With the incidence projected to rise in Assam, early screening has become increasingly important.

Led by Assistant Professor Pankaj Barah and research scholar Cinmoyee Baruah from the Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, the research has been published in the Journal of Proteome Research by the American Chemical Society. “Changes in blood metabolites like creatinine can clearly distinguish cancer cases with and without gallstones, opening the way for blood tests for early detection,” Barah said.

The pilot study analyzed blood from three groups: cancer patients without gallstones, cancer patients with gallstones, and gallstone patients without cancer. Advanced metabolomics identified 180 altered metabolites in gallstone-free cancer cases and 225 in gallstone-associated cases, including bile acids and amino acid derivatives linked to tumor growth. The study also proposed distinct biomarker panels with high diagnostic potential.

The research involved collaboration among surgeons, pathologists, pharmaceutical experts, molecular biologists, and computational scientists from Assam Medical College and Hospital (Dibrugarh), Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute (Guwahati), Swagat Super-Speciality Hospital, University of Illinois (USA), and CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (Lucknow).

Pathologist Gayatri Gogoi of Assam Medical College said, “This bridges tissue pathology and blood metabolomics for real-world diagnosis.” GI surgeon Subhash Khanna described the findings as a “practical step toward early diagnosis and better treatment decisions.”

Researchers emphasized that larger multi-center trials are needed before clinical implementation but noted the study’s potential to develop non-invasive diagnostic tools for high-risk areas like Northeast India.