UNITED KINGDOM —In a groundbreaking development, scientists in the United Kingdom have successfully harnessed the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to predict the likelihood of breast cancer spreading in patients.

By analyzing the immune response of lymph nodes, vital components of the body’s defense system, researchers have created an AI model capable of identifying changes that indicate the potential spread of the disease throughout the body.

The focus of their study was on triple-negative breast cancer, a particularly aggressive form of the disease that currently lacks targeted treatments, affecting approximately 15% of breast cancer cases.

It tends to recur or spread within the first few years after treatment, posing significant challenges for patients and healthcare providers alike.

When breast cancer metastasizes to other parts of the body, it becomes secondary breast cancer, a condition that can be managed but not cured.

Various factors, including inherited altered BRCA genes, black ethnicity, pre-menopausal status, and being under the age of 40, increase the risk of developing this type of breast cancer.

Recognizing the urgent need for more personalized treatment options, experts anticipate that the AI-driven breakthrough could pave the way for tailored interventions based on an individual’s unique risk profile, potentially halting the disease’s progression before it reaches an incurable stage.

The research team at King’s College London developed and tested their AI model using over 5,000 lymph nodes generously donated by 345 patients to biobanks, including the renowned Breast Cancer Now Tissue Bank.

Through rigorous testing, they established that the AI model accurately predicted the likelihood of cancer spreading to other organs.

Traditionally, breast cancer cells initially metastasize to lymph nodes located in the armpit region, known as the axilla, which are in closest proximity to the tumor.

In such cases, patients typically receive more intensive treatments to halt the disease’s further progression.

However, the scientists made a groundbreaking discovery: even in situations where breast cancer cells had not yet invaded the lymph nodes, the immune responses observed provided crucial insights into the likelihood of the cancer spreading elsewhere in the body.

To conduct their analysis, the researchers employed advanced image analysis techniques, leveraging a computer program to examine lymph nodes in cancer patients.

By cross-referencing these findings with patient records and information on cancer spread, they were able to identify specific patterns indicative of future metastasis.

Dr. Anita Grigoriadis, who spearheaded the research at the Breast Cancer Now Unit at King’s College London, expressed her excitement about the findings: “Using our AI, we looked at lots of lymph node pictures, and we homed in on specific patterns.”

She further explained, “What we have seen is that when we look at many lymph nodes from many patients, we saw that when we find these features, they seem to be a sign that the patient somehow has the ability to hold off developing cancers in other organs for longer than in these patients which we have not found these features in the lymph nodes.”

The findings of this groundbreaking research have been published in the Journal of Pathology, and the next step for the research team is to validate the AI model through clinical trials.

Dr. Simon Vincent, Director of Research, Support, and Influencing at Breast Cancer Now, emphasized the significance of this development, highlighting that around 8,000 women in the UK are diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer each year, a subgroup known for its aggressive nature and less favorable outcomes.

With the potential to transform breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, the integration of AI in healthcare holds immense promise.

For all the latest healthcare industry news from Africa and the World, subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, and YouTube Channel, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, and like us on Facebook.