Cancer patients around the world will soon see a significant reduction in the time it takes to diagnose brain tumors, thanks to a groundbreaking new artificial intelligence (AI) tool. Developed at the Australian National University by a team led by researcher Dr. Danh-Tai Hoang, the tool, called DEPLOY, can classify brain tumors within hours, a process that typically takes weeks in most hospitals.
The remarkable accuracy of DEPLOY is a result of training the AI using histopathology images, which are microscopic pictures of tissue, from approximately 4,000 patients in the US and Europe. Dr. Hoang described the results as “unprecedented.” By providing an accurate classification of brain tumors, the tool can potentially improve treatment options and outcomes, giving patients a better chance of beating cancer.
Dr. Hoang explained, “Brain tumors can be difficult to diagnose, and the patient’s time is valuable. This tool can help them get treatment as soon as possible.” Currently, the “gold standard” for detection is a time-consuming process that takes at least 2-3 weeks to classify a subtype using DNA methylation-based profiling. However, this method is not available in all hospitals, posing significant limitations for patients.
DEPLOY addresses this challenge by predicting DNA methylation with an impressive accuracy rate of 95 percent. In collaboration with experts from the National Cancer Institute in the US, the tool was able to provide diagnoses that were more clinically relevant than those initially provided by pathologists in a subset of 309 difficult-to-classify samples. This demonstrates the potential for DEPLOY to serve as a complementary tool, augmenting a pathologist’s initial diagnosis or prompting re-evaluation when there are disparities.
The impact of DEPLOY extends beyond brain cancer diagnosis. The researchers believe that the tool can eventually be adapted to help classify other types of cancer as well. Their research has been published in the prestigious peer-reviewed journal Nature Medicine, solidifying the tool’s credibility and potential for widespread use.
The development of DEPLOY represents a significant leap forward in cancer diagnosis, particularly for patients with brain tumors. The ability to provide accurate classifications in a matter of hours rather than weeks has the potential to save lives and improve the overall patient experience. As AI continues to advance, we can expect more revolutionary tools like DEPLOY to transform the field of medicine, offering hope and improved outcomes for patients around the world.
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