New AI-Based Method Could Enable Better Treatment of Advanced Bowel Cancer
Written by AZoRoboticsApr 23 2021
A new study reports that a test that employs artificial intelligence (AI) to measure proteins found in certain patients suffering from advanced bowel cancer could enable more targeted treatment.
The main image is of a colorectal cancer. To the left of the black line is how the image would appear down a microscope. The image to the right of the line is how it would look once the artificial intelligence algorithm has been used to label the cancer cells with dots. The red dots highlight the cells which contain the EREG protein and the green dots are EREG negative. Image Credit: Copyright Roche Diagnostics.
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A test which uses artificial intelligence (AI) to measure proteins present in some patients with advanced bowel cancer could hold the key to more targeted treatment, according to research published today.
A team at the University of Leeds collaborated with researchers at Roche Diagnostics to develop the technique, which will help doctors and patients to decide on the best treatment options.
They used samples from a previous trial funded by Cancer Research UK to look at the levels of two proteins, known as AREG and EREG, which are produced by some colorectal cancers.
Algorithms driven by AI enabled the researchers to show that patients with higher levels of these proteins received significant benefit from a treatment which inhibits a different protein involved in cancer cell growth, known as EGFR. Of equal importance, patients with low levels of the proteins did not benefit from the treatment.
People are being urged not to delay contacting their GP about concerning symptoms of bowel cancer. Bowel cancer is the UK’s second biggest cancer killer, with more than 16,000 people dying from the disease every year, but is treatable and curable, especially if diagnosed early. Nearly everyone survives bowel cancer if diagnosed at the earliest stage; however, this drops significantly as the disease develops. It is more common in the over-50s but it can affect people of all ages. Speaking in Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, Dr Arun Thimmiah, local GP and GP lead for cancer at Morecambe Bay Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: “Around 42,000 new cases of bowel cancer are detected in the UK each year. It’s shocking that around half of adults living in the UK (42 per cent) are not aware of any symptoms of bowel cancer and yet it is the UK’s second biggest killer. If you notice any symptoms of bowel cancer such as persistent blood in your poo, persistent change in bow
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Twenty-two empty two-seater sofas represent the 44 people who lose their lives every day due to bowel cancer
Twenty-two empty two-seater sofas took over Sunderland’s Stadium of Light this week to represent the 44 people who lose their lives every day due to bowel cancer, the UK’s second biggest cancer killer, which is more than 16,000 lives lost every year.
Sofa and carpet specialist, ScS, has been working with ITV’s Lorraine to raise awareness of bowel cancer and its symptoms, which if caught early enough, can often be cured by treatment and prevent it from coming back.
Bowel cancer survivor, Deborah James, presented part of the ITV show live from an ScS sofa at the stadium on Tuesday 20 April 20, to talk about issues surrounding this type of cancer, urging people to check for symptoms and visit a doctor if they are worried. The Stadium of Light was chosen as it holds 49,000 seats, a number close to those diagnos
ScS sofas represent the people who die of bowel cancer every day in the UK THE Stadium of Light was filled with 22 two-seater sofas to represent the 44 people who lose their lives every day due to bowel cancer – the UK’s second biggest cancer killer which claims 16,000 lives every year. Sunderland-based sofa and carpet retailer ScS has been working with ITV’s Lorraine to raise awareness of bowel cancer and its symptoms, which if caught early can often be cured. Bowel cancer survivor, Deborah James, presented part of the ITV show live from an ScS sofa at Sunderland AFC’s ground this morning, to talk about issues surrounding this type of cancer, urging people to check for symptoms and visit a doctor if they are worried.