Hopes new Artificial Intelligence tool could improve breast cancer treatment

Researchers are hoping a new AI tool could help identify patients at increased risk of side effects from radiation treatment for breast cancer.

Experts at the University of Leicester who are among those helping to develop the new tool, say they hope it will assist doctors and patients with radiation treatment options.

They added that although survival rates for breast cancer had risen dramatically, some patients were at increased risk of side effects from radiation treatment, including heart damage and skin ulcers, and they are hoping AI can predict where and what side effects a patient will get.

Dr Christopher Talbot from the university’s Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, said “The impact this could have on cancer patients is significant.  It would enable them to make informed choices which will improve their quality of life after cancer treatment.

“Although radiotherapy is very good at treating tumours, we know that a minority of patients can suffer significant side effects from radiation treatment.

“AI could assist in the decision-making process and ultimately improve an individual’s quality of life by predicting where and what the side effects will be, based on their genetic makeup.

“Data from existing cancer patients will be used to design and implement an AI tool that serves exactly this purpose.”

The researchers are part of a team from across Europe who are developing the tool, which will be trialled across 26 hospitals over the next three years.

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (jacquelinevance@chadlaw.co.uk), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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