Revolutionizing Rectal Cancer Treatment with AI

Published Date: 26/06/2024

Researchers awarded $2.78 million grant to improve rectal cancer treatment with AI

A new five-year, $2.78 million grant from the National Institutes of Health and National Cancer Institute will enable researchers at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Clinic, and University Hospitals to harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve rectal cancer treatment. The American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 46,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with rectal cancer this year, making it the third most common type of cancer in the digestive system.

The researchers aim to develop new radiomic signatures using computational analysis of radiology and pathology images to determine how well rectal cancer patients respond to therapy. This approach will help clinicians better personalize treatments for patients with rectal cancer.

The study will analyze medical images from over 900 rectal cancer patients using AI, incorporating data from a previous clinical trial. Investigators will examine how well patients respond to treatment based on the gathered information, with the goal of developing a non-invasive and accurate method to identify rectal cancer patients who have no tumor remaining after therapy. This will reduce the number of unnecessary surgeries and associated complications.

The study's lead researcher, Satish Viswanath, an associate professor of biomedical engineering at Case Western Reserve, emphasized the significance of this approach, stating,

FAQs:

Q: What is the purpose of the $2.78 million grant?

A: The grant aims to improve rectal cancer treatment using artificial intelligence (AI).

Q: How many people are estimated to be diagnosed with rectal cancer this year?

A: The American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 46,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with rectal cancer this year.

Q: What is the goal of the researchers?

A: The researchers aim to develop new radiomic signatures using computational analysis of radiology and pathology images to determine how well rectal cancer patients respond to therapy.

Q: How many medical images will be analyzed in the study?

A: The study will analyze medical images from over 900 rectal cancer patients using AI.

Q: What is the expected outcome of the study?

A: The study is expected to lead to improved outcomes for all patients being treated for rectal cancer, with the potential to bring real survival and quality-of-life benefits.

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