AI and the future of cancer care

As AI continues to develop at rapid pace, it will undoubtedly transform the way we diagnose cancer patients, develop new treatments, engage with healthcare professionals (HCPs), and provide care. David Woods, VP Analytics & Innovation Portfolio Lead, and Kelly Malloy, SVP AI Customer Engagement, look at some of the latest AI innovations in oncology – and how Inizio Medical Is helping clients navigate the complexities and opportunities augmented and artificial intelligence present in the world of Oncology.

 1. Identifying and correcting errors in clinical guidelines  

One of the most interesting uses for AI that we’ve seen recently is the way it can improve the speed and accuracy of finding critical errors in clinical guidelines and reviews. An AI tool called Scite analyzes citations, generates a list of linked publications, displays the context for each citation, and then automatically flags any errata or retractions in each source.  

This capability not only speeds up the process, but also ensures a higher degree of accuracy by isolating outdated or incorrect information, significantly reducing the risk of perpetuating errors in clinical practice. This advance represents a critical step forward in maintaining the integrity and reliability of medical guidelines.

2. Improving decision making  

Some of the earliest and most effective uses of AI in oncology have been in supporting human pathologists to improve their accuracy rate when it comes to tumor scans. That’s now evolving in an interesting way. Researchers have not only been using multi-modal AI (AI that can take in text, visuals, and other types of information) to analyze scans but also workup and other documentation, in order to get a more holistic visual and text-based view. This can support diagnosis as well as be used to identify other aspects such as histology types, grades, and T-stages. In the future, AI could be a second opinion for cancer diagnosis.   

Another area of interest is at the primary care level in terms of cancer detection and determining the most appropriate diagnosis pathway. Researchers have created an AI-enabled risk-stratification decision support tool called C the Signs. Based on how a patient was presenting, they consulted the AI platform, which would then recommend the best cancer pathway to be considered. In doing so, primary care teams were able to increase their Cancer Detection Rates from about 59% to 66%.

3. Creating a better quality of life for patients… and physicians 

The ongoing development of AI will likely lead to more advanced, integrated care pathways. For example, AI has the potential to be used in real-time decision-making processes, offering immediate insights into the most effective treatment strategies. 

That decision making can then be supported by a comprehensive AI analysis of genetic imaging and clinical data, as well as predicting and mitigating treatment-related symptoms, reducing readmissions. 

AI isn’t just going to help speed the time to diagnosis and identifying appropriate treatment pathways, but also with more routine, time-consuming administrative tasks many clinicians face. For example, it is already helping with scheduling, documentation, and billing – freeing up physicians to spend more time on caring for patients and deepening their scientific and therapeutic knowledge.  

An exciting era for AI and oncology 

The insights from ASCO highlight the clinical community’s enthusiasm for AI, which is being used to enhance rather than replace human abilities. This technology is significantly improving the quality of life for both patients and practitioners. As AI continues to evolve, it’s imperative for pharma and agencies to support healthcare professionals with AI-augmented capabilities that meet their unique needs, fostering trust and strengthening the partnership with clinicians. 

An ethical approach 

At Inizio Medical, we harness the potential of AI to ensure the right information reaches the right audience at the right time, maximizing the value of scientific exchange and advancing patient care. We take a transparent and ethical approach to delivering AI-augmented services for the most impactful use cases in life sciences, ensuring trust and compliance in this highly regulated industry. Our commitment to shared responsibilities includes data protection, security, eliminating biases in AI output, and maintaining openness and ethics in our AI applications, providing a solid foundation for clients at any stage of their AI journey 

Whatever the future holds, AI is destined to play an increasingly pivotal role in the future of oncology. The big question is: how will you harness its power? Don’t miss the opportunity to revolutionize cancer care. Reach out to Inizio Medical today and take the first step towards a brighter future in oncology.