Oncologists use AI to predict spread of aggressive breast cancer
Oncologists Healthcare experts have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) model to predict whether aggressive breast cancer will spread – by detecting changes in lymph nodes.
Lymph nodes are structures under the arm that can show whether breast cancer has spread in women with triple-negative breast cancer.
In these cases, patients require more intensive treatment, according to experts, but the AI model can give patients peace of mind about the likelihood of triple-negative breast cancer spreading, as well as help doctors plan treatment. Could
Dr Anita Grigoriadis, who led the research at the Breast Cancer Now Unit at King’s College London, said: “By demonstrating that lymph node changes can predict whether triple-negative breast cancer will spread, we have built on our growing knowledge of the important The immune response may play a role in understanding the patient’s prognosis.”
“We took these findings from under the microscope and translated them into a deep-learning framework to build AI models to potentially help doctors treat and care for patients, helping them prevent secondary breast cancer. To help provide another tool in their arsenal.”
One estimate suggests that 15% of all breast cancers in the UK are triple negative, with over 8,000 cases a year. This type usually has no protein found in breast cancer and accounts for 25% of deaths.
In the study, published in the Journal of Pathology, medical experts experimented with their AI model on more than 5,000 lymph nodes donated by 345 patients to the biobank. The model successfully established the possibility that breast cancer could spread to other parts of the body.
The study showed that the AI model was able to predict this by analyzing immune responses in lymph nodes, even when breast cancer cells had not spread to the organs. The next step is clinical trials.
Dr Grigoriadis added: “We’re planning to test the model further at centres across Europe to make it even more robust and precise.”
“The transition from assessing tissue on a glass slide under a microscope to using computers in the NHS is gaining momentum.”
“We want to take advantage of this change to develop AI-powered software based on our model for pathologists to benefit women with this difficult-to-treat breast cancer.”
Dr Simon Vincent, Director of Research, Advocacy and Impact at Breast Cancer Now, said: “If it is possible, thanks to this research, to provide women with more tailored treatment and care based on how likely their breast cancer is to spread, it could help.” could.” To save lives and reduce stress and anxiety.
“We look forward to further findings to understand how we can work into practice to benefit women affected by this type of breast cancer.”