3 minute read
Early detection of pancreatic cancer
Next Article
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly lethal type of pancreatic cancer with a 5-year survival rate of 2.9% to 10%. More than half of cases are diagnosed latestage, and sufferers experience symptoms they continually ignore, such as general abdominal pain or unexplained weight loss. There are few therapeutic options, and surgical resection remains the leading “curative” form in patients with small carcinomas. It has been established that the primary genes driving pancreatic carcinogenesis are KRAS, TP53, CDKN2A, and SMAD4.
The populations where a higher prevalence of pancreatic cancer is reported are Japan, Hungary, and Uruguay. With the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), it has been possible to stratify patients and identify risks associated with the development of PDAC, thus becoming a promising alternative for early diagnosis.
Figure: Detection of suspected pancreatic cancer using the newly developed technology. Courtesy.
Starting in April of this year (2022), the Japanese company Fujitsu, the leader in information and communication technologies (ICT), in partnership with the South Tohoku General Hospital, initiated a novel research project in search of an AI solution that detects pancreatic cancer at an early stage; to this end, are analyzing 300 non-contrast CT scan images of PDAC patients. The AI can identify the region corresponding to the pancreas (yellow color) and identify suspicious parts affected by cancer cells (red color); this is done by estimating the continuity between the anterior and posterior cross-sectional images taking into account the connection of the anatomical tissue and automatically performing a 3D analysis of areas with solid continuity, in addition to a flat analysis of areas with little continuity.
With these images, an early, reliable, and efficient visual diagnosis is generated to identify patients with a suspected risk of pancreatic cancer; after this detection, the patient may be referred to a gastroenterologist for detailed analysis. This is how this technological or ecological alternative can greatly help pancreas cancer and several other diseases.
Writing by
Claudia Mejía Morales, PhD
Research and Development Analyst at Drox Health Science. Ph.D in Biosystematics, Ecology and Management of Natural and Agricultural Resources, with orientation in Biotic Products; Master in Environmental Sciences, with orientation in Environmental Technology. With 10 publications in national and international indexed journals.
Source:
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20220524/Using-AI-to-Achieve-Earlier-Diagnosis-of-Pancreatic-Cancer.aspx
Original source:
https://www.fujitsu.com/global/about/resources/news/press-releases/2022/0425-01.html
Secondary sources:
1. Kenner, B., Chari, S. T., Kelsen, D., Klimstra, D. S., Pandol, S. J., Rosenthal, M., ...& Wolpin, B. (2021). Artificial intelligence and early detection of pancreatic cancer: 2020 summative review. Pancreas, 50(3), 251.
2. Sarantis, P., Koustas, E., Papadimitropoulou, A., Papavassiliou, A. G., & Karamouzis, M. V. (2020). Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: Treatment hurdles, tumor microenvironment and immunotherapy. World journal of gastrointestinal oncology, 12(2), 173.
3. Siegel Rebecca, L., & Miller Kimberly, D. (2019). Jemal Ahmedin. Cancer statistics, 2019. CA: a cancer journal for clinicians, 69(1), 7-
