Cancer Radio therapy by AI(Artificial Intelligence)

A groundbreaking form of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, aimed at reducing waiting times for cancer patients before starting radiotherapy, will now be provided to all NHS trusts in England at cost price.

This innovative technology assists doctors in determining the optimal direction for therapeutic radiation beams, effectively targeting cancerous cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissue.

The research team at Addenbrooke's Hospital collaborated with Microsoft to develop and train the AI program. This remarkable achievement has been a decade in the making.

Traditionally, doctors spend between 25 minutes and two hours meticulously analyzing approximately 100 scan cross-sections for each patient, carefully outlining bones and organs. However, the AI program operates at a significantly accelerated pace, reportedly performing two and a half times faster.

One of the key goals, for instance, when treating prostate cancer is to prevent harm to adjacent organs such as the bladder or rectum, as this can lead to lifelong continence issues. Dr. Raj Jena, leading the research at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, emphasized the detrimental impact such conditions can have on patients' lives.

To develop the AI program, Dr. Jena collaborated with Microsoft and utilized data from previous patients. Subsequently, the NHS Artificial Intelligence Laboratory provided £500,000 in funding to Addenbrooke's for the necessary safety checks and evaluations. The program is now being shared with a manufacturer, who has agreed to make the cloud-based technology accessible to other NHS trusts at cost price.

While doctors still review and verify each contour generated by the AI program, the researchers state that the program is approximately 90% accurate. Clinicians approve its work without corrections in about two-thirds of cases.

Dr. Jena highlighted that their consultant colleagues preferred to start with the AI program's work over the work of their fellow consultants.

The government has been investing in AI initiatives across the NHS, but this AI program marks the first release of a NHS-developed AI technology as a medical-imaging device.

Dr. Katharine Halliday, president of the Royal College of Radiologists, expressed enthusiasm for the potential of AI in enhancing diagnostics and cancer therapy. She emphasized that AI can expedite the diagnostic process, enabling early detection and increasing patients' chances of recovery. Dr. Halliday emphasized the invaluable role of clinical radiologists, who possess the expertise and insight to interpret complex scans and guide treatment or surgery. While AI shows tremendous promise and can alleviate the strain on healthcare professionals, it cannot replace the skills and training of highly qualified specialists.