A team of Chinese researchers has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) tool that predicts the risk of liver cancer coming back after surgery. The tool has an accuracy rate of 82.2%, according to a study published in Nature.
Liver cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. After surgery, the cancer can return in up to 70% of cases, making prediction very important.
Scientists from the University of Science and Technology of China, led by Sun Cheng, created a scoring system called TIMES. This system analyzes the arrangement of immune cells in the tumor to assess the chances of cancer returning. It is the first tool in the world to use spatial immune data for predicting liver cancer recurrence.
The researchers used advanced methods like spatial transcriptomics, proteomics, and AI-based analysis to develop the system. They trained it using tissue samples from 61 liver cancer patients.
To help doctors worldwide, they have also launched a free online version of TIMES. This allows users to upload tissue images and get instant risk evaluations.
Sun Cheng said the goal is to provide a powerful tool for doctors to create better treatment plans, especially in places with fewer medical resources. The team is also working with industry partners to make TIMES a standard tool in hospitals.
Source: dawn
