AI Cancer Research

DeepMind, Google’s artificial intelligence division, will analyse anonymised CT and MRI scans to develop an algorithm that can differentiat.

19:21 31 August 2016

DeepMind, Google’s artificial intelligence division, will analyse anonymised CT and MRI scans to develop an algorithm that can differentiate between healthy and cancerous tissues.

 

Anonymised CT and MRI scans of 700 former radiotherapy patients at the University College London Hospital will be analysed by DeepMind in an effort to create an algorithm that can automatically differentiate between healthy and cancerous tissues. It is hoped that the process can reduce the time it takes to create targeted radiotherapy treatments.

 

Dr Kieran Breen, of Brain Tumour Research, said: "From my perspective, one of the challenges that we have in the treatment of all tumours, but particularly brain and neck [tumours], is their complexity,"

 

"One way we can really improve this is by using the knowledge we already have,"

 

"This is essentially what this project is doing."

 

Dr Justine Alford, senior science information officer at Cancer Research UK, said that targeted treatment helps reduce side effects and possible complications.

 

"Using computers to help plan radiotherapy could help deliver better treatment for patients by speeding up the process and improving accuracy," she said.

 

"But we won't know until results from this innovative new project are produced."