The Role of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Big Data in Oncology

Modern technology plays a vital role in oncology. 

Big data, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning excel at recognizing patterns in large volumes of data that cannot be perceived by the human brain.

The integration of artificial intelligence, big data and machine learning in cancer care could drastically improve the accuracy and speed of diagnosis, help clinical decision-making, and lead to better health outcomes. Medical imaging solutions can help clinicians deliver more consistent care and tools for researchers looking to conduct efficient clinical trials.

AI's applications in healthcare can improve disease diagnosis, management, and the development of effective therapies. This includes the work on prostate cancer, cervical cancer and finding low-grade glioma using brain MRIs. Artificial intelligence, big data and machine learning are also increasing the innovation in drug development and biomarker discovery.

Some Key Facts About Cancer

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer arises from the transformation of normal cells into tumour cells in a multi-stage process that generally progresses from a precancerous lesion to a malignant tumour. These changes are the result of the interaction between a person's genetic factors and three categories of external agents, including:

• Physical carcinogens, such as ultraviolet and ionizing radiation;

• Chemical carcinogens, such as asbestos, components of tobacco smoke, aflatoxin (a food contaminant), and arsenic (a drinking water contaminant); and

• Biological carcinogens, such as infections from certain viruses, bacteria, or parasites.

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020. 

Source: Cancer Research

The most common in 2020 (in terms of new cases of cancer) were:

• breast (2.26 million cases);

• lung (2.21 million cases);

• colon and rectum (1.93 million cases);

• prostate (1.41 million cases);

• skin (non-melanoma) (1.20 million cases); and

• stomach (1.09 million cases).

Here are some other key statistics about cancer:

• Approximately 70% of deaths from cancer occur in low- and middle-income countries.

• Around one-third of deaths from cancer are due to tobacco use, high body mass index, alcohol use, low fruit and vegetable intake, and lack of physical activity.

• Cancer-causing infections, such as hepatitis and human papillomavirus (HPV), are responsible for approximately 30% of cancer cases in low- and lower-middle-income countries.

• Late-stage presentation and lack of access to diagnosis and treatment are common, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Comprehensive treatment is reportedly available in more than 90% of high-income countries but less than 15% of low-income countries.

• The economic impact of cancer is significant and increasing. The total annual economic cost of cancer in 2010 was estimated at US$ 1.16 trillion.

What is Oncology and What Are the Subsets of Artificial Intelligence?

Oncology is the study of cancer. An oncologist is a doctor who treats cancer and provides medical care for a person diagnosed with cancer. An oncologist may also be called a cancer specialist. The field of oncology has 3 major areas based on treatments: medical oncology, radiation oncology, and surgical oncology.

Artificial intelligence applies to computing systems designed to perform tasks usually reserved for human intelligence using logic, if-then rules, and decision trees. AI recognizes patterns from vast amounts of quality data providing insights, predicting outcomes, and making complex decisions.

Over the past few years, more and more companies have been experimenting with AI, advancing their data-related capabilities, acquiring new technologies and talent, and integrating AI into their business processes. In coming years, AI will likely become even more pervasive. Just as we no longer talk about isolated mobile strategies (they’re just part of doing business), AI will soon become standard and routine—maybe even faster than we expect. Here are 4 of its most popular subsets:

Machine learning (ML): With machine learning technologies, computers can be taught to analyze data, identify hidden patterns, make classifications, and predict future outcomes. 

Deep learning (DL): Deep learning is a subset of machine learning based upon a conceptual model of the human brain called “neural networks.” It’s called deep learning because the neural networks have multiple layers that interconnect. 

Natural language processing (NL): Natural language processing is the ability to extract or generate meaning and intent from text in a readable, stylistically natural, and grammatically correct form. 

Computer vision (CV): Computer vision is the ability to extract meaning and intent from visual elements, whether characters (in the case of document digitization) or the categorization of content in images, such as faces, objects, scenes, and activities. 

Artificial intelligence has many advantages, but also disadvantages, and everything will depend on how AI will be used or misused.

Artificial intelligence has massive potential for creating a better world to live in. The most important role for humans will be to ensure that the rise of the AI doesn’t get out of hand. 

How Artificial Intelligence is Crucial in Oncology?

AI-powered decision support systems are increasingly getting better at optimizing treatment decision making for cancer patients. 

Artificial intelligence models could provide accurate prospective recommendations on the most effective therapeutic approaches for individual cancer patients by identifying synergistic drug combinations, or in optimizing dosing schedules to maximize therapeutic efficacy.

The application of AI to precision oncology is still in its infancy. Given the large number of patients diagnosed with cancer and significant amount of data generated during cancer treatment, there is a specific interest in the application of AI to improve oncologic care.

Accurately diagnosing cancer in an individual at an early stage promises to be useful to prevent their death due to the disease at an advanced stage later. In such a situation, healthcare systems can benefit greatly from automated tools that can closely monitor cellular formations to know whether tumors, malignant or otherwise, can be formed in a person's body.

Machine Learning is Pivotal in Oncology

Machine learning (ML) is a subset of artificial intelligence. Through the use of statistical methods, algorithms are trained to make classifications or predictions, uncovering key insights within data mining projects. 

The majority of the AI applications within healthcare involve the utilization of machine learning algorithms. As ML algorithms are exposed to more training data, they are able to appreciate hidden patterns within the data which can then be used to perform a task without explicit programming.

A combination of machine learning and computer vision can be used for diagnostic operations. Once potentially cancerous cells are identified in an individual, then healthcare experts can conduct tests to know whether the tumor is malignant and metastatic or not. The entire cancer diagnosis process can be carried out systematically. Initially, a full-body check-up of a likely cancer patient must be conducted to detect irregularities in their vital statistics. Generally, cancers can be detected if a person undergoes weight loss at an alarming rate or suffers from a loss of appetite, among other indicators.

Deep Learning & Neural Networks in Oncology

Deep learning models and neural networks can be trained using computer vision to identify a cancerous tumor by categorizing factors such as its radius, perimeter, compactness, proximity to organs and others. More often than not, such factors may be useful to select the type of treatment that can be used to deal with abnormal cellular growth. 

Predictive Analytics in Oncology

Predictive analytics in oncology is useful for identifying high-risk cancer patients. Such patients usually suffer from cancer relapses even after undergoing high-intensity treatments such as chemotherapy or other types of surgeries. Identifying such patients at an early stage can be tricky for even the most experienced health experts, but machine learning can identify specific patterns to forecast a possible reappearance of cancer cells in them. By identifying such patients early, the costs of expensive treatments can be avoided, and health experts can focus on using malignancy preventive measures (medicines and lifestyle recommendations) to a greater extent instead.

AI-based predictive analysis could allow health experts to study tumor characteristics in a detailed manner in certain patients. Based on such studies, such workers can identify the individuals whose bodies can take chemotherapy without too much post-treatment damage. Certain patients’ bodies may respond to specific treatments in a more positive manner than others.

Predictive analysis is also a useful tool for pathology and biopsy. One of the main problem areas of cancer treatments is the likelihood of using excessive or inappropriate treatments for patients who may not require it. As a result, such patients face a higher chance of dying due to excessive treatments compared to cancer itself. So, predictive analysis systems, such as Google’s AI tool, offer higher accuracy in cancer diagnoses so that doctors can focus on measures other than powerful treatments.

The Role of Big Data & Artificial Intelligence in Oncology

Big data in oncology is useful to analyze the levels and types of proteins found in benign and malignant cancer cells. While that bit of information may seem insignificant, cancer treatment is influenced by such factors too. If you think about it, AI and big data in oncology are like two sides of the same coin. Both elements are codependent, meaning that one of them cannot flourish without the other. The combination of big data and AI offers a massive boost for healthcare in general and especially in our fight against cancer. 

Conclusion

With the rapid development of human society, cancer-related knowledge is also growing exponentially, which has caused a knowledge gap for clinic physicians.

A definitive cure for cancer seems to be distant even as artificial intelligence, machine learning and big data advances in the field have significantly improved the quality of research, life-prolonging medicines and surgeries. Barring a few obvious exceptions, health experts have found ways to inhibit the life-threatening elements of all known terminal diseases.

Relentless research and the sheer force of will have allowed global healthcare to neutralize illnesses such as measles and, to a certain extent, even the more recent ones like Ebola.

Cancer poses a different problem to nearly all those deadly diseases that we have encountered in the past. For starters, cancer isn’t just one ailment but an entire catalog of them. Secondly, cancer hastens your demise using your own cells as opposed to most other killer diseases that involve external agents. Additionally, as we know, several types of cancers frequently resurface even after treatment.

The fact that malignant cells mutate in wild and unpredictable ways does not help matters either. As a result, cancer still kills several people every year, with the figure being as high as nearly 10 million in 2020.