AI-Enhanced Radiotherapy Approved for Lung, Prostate & Colorectal Cancers
Artificial intelligence (AI) is set to revolutionize radiotherapy treatment in England. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) has recommended the use of AI technologies to aid NHS clinicians in performing external beam radiotherapy for lung, prostate, and colorectal cancers. This move is expected to alleviate the pressure on radiotherapy departments and save radiographers countless hours.
According to NHS England data, there were 134,419 radiotherapy episodes between April 2021 and March 2022, and a significant number of them required complex planning. Traditionally, therapeutic radiographers manually outlined healthy organs on CT or MRI scans to minimize damage to normal tissue during radiotherapy. However, Nice’s draft guidance suggests that using AI to create these contours could save between three and 80 minutes of radiographers’ time for each treatment plan. Moreover, AI-generated contours were found to be of similar quality to those drawn by hand.
It is important to note that although AI will mark the contours, a trained healthcare professional will still review them. Dr. Sarah Byron, the program director for health technologies at Nice, believes that AI implementation can help reduce waiting lists and improve efficiency. She emphasized that clinical oversight by healthcare professionals remains essential.
The approval of AI technologies for radiotherapy planning has been well-received. Health Secretary Steve Barclay expressed his optimism, stating that embracing innovation is crucial for the future of the NHS. He acknowledged that AI tools have the potential to enhance efficiency and save clinicians valuable time, which can then be directed towards patient care. As part of the NHS’s long-term workforce plan, an expert group will be assembled to determine the necessary skills and training for NHS staff to effectively utilize AI.
Nice is also evaluating the evidence for using AI in stroke and chest scans. The growing body of research suggests that AI can significantly improve the detection of cancers, streamline CT scan analysis, and expedite patient treatment. One recent study found that AI used in breast cancer screening could reduce radiologists’ workload by almost half.
The draft guidance from Nice recommends nine AI platforms for performing external beam radiotherapy: AI-Rad Companion Organs RT, ART-Plan, DLCExpert, INTContour, Limbus Contour, MIM Contour ProtegeAI, MRCAT Prostate plus Auto-contouring, MVision Segmentation Service, and RayStation.
While supporting the implementation of AI technologies, Charlotte Beardmore, the executive director of professional policy at the Society of Radiographers, emphasized the importance of evidence, stating that safe AI application in this clinical setting cannot be understated. She argued that AI usage should always involve input from a therapeutic radiographer or another member of the oncology multi-professional team. Beardmore also emphasized the need for continued investment in the growth of the radiography workforce.
In addition to AI’s impact in radiotherapy, the UK government has announced a £13m investment in AI healthcare research. This funding will support various projects, including the development of a semi-autonomous surgical robotics platform for tumor removal and the utilization of AI to predict an individual’s future health problems based on existing conditions.
As the benefits of AI in healthcare become more apparent, the government continues to prioritize technological advancements. With careful consideration, AI has the potential to improve patient outcomes, optimize treatment planning, and alleviate the burden on healthcare professionals. As further research and development progress, AI is expected to play an increasingly prominent role in the future of cancer treatment.
