Landmark trial of 700,000 women begins after AI detected breast cancer 5 years before it even developed
This could transform the lives of many
Thousands of women across the UK will take part in a groundbreaking trial to test how AI tools can be used to catch breast cancer cases earlier.
According to The Department of Health and Social Care, nearly 700,000 women in the UK will take part in a trial to test how AI can help detect breast cancer earlier than ever before.
The study will roll out at 30 testing sites kitted out with the latest AI-powered digital screening technology.
Women already scheduled for routine NHS breast cancer screenings will be invited to participate.
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The AI will work alongside radiologists, analysing changes in breast tissue that show possible signs of cancer and refer them for further investigations if required.
If successful, this technology could free up hundreds of specialists, tackling the rise of cancer rates and cutting long waiting lists.
Known as the EDITH trial (Early Detection using Information Technology in Health), the project has already received £11 million in government funding through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
It's part of the latest effort by UK scientists to 'transform cancer care, building on the promising potential of cutting-edge innovations to tackle one of the UK’s biggest killers.'
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women, with around 55,000 new cases diagnosed each year.
Currently, women aged 50 and 71 are invited for screenings every three years.
The NHS conducts about 2.1 million breast cancer screenings annually, preventing around 1,300 deaths.
Lord Darzi’s recent independent investigation into the NHS found that cancer survival in the UK is 'worse for some cancers than some similar nations.' Therefore, it's hoped that new strategies like these could make a huge difference in early detection and treatment.
AI technology is already showing promise in diagnosing cancer, often outperforming human doctors in accuracy.
In one NHS pilot, an AI system named Mia analysed mammograms from over 10,000 women.
While the majority of scans were cancer-free, the AI successfully flagged every case with symptoms and identified 11 cancers that doctors had missed.
"These results are encouraging and help to highlight the exciting potential AI presents for diagnostics," said Dr. Katharine Halliday, president of the Royal College of Radiologists, commenting on Mia's positive results.
"There is no question that real-life clinical radiologists are essential and irreplaceable, but a clinical radiologist using insights from validated AI tools will increasingly be a formidable force in patient care."
Meanwhile, a separate study of 116,495 women in Norway found that AI mammogram screening could predict breast cancer risk up to six years before a diagnosis.