AI Tool PhenMap Predicts Bowel Cancer Drug Response to Spare Patients Ineffective Treatment
Researchers from London’s Institute of Cancer Research and RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences in Dublin have developed PhenMap, an AI-driven tool designed to predict how patients with advanced bowel cancer will respond to bevacizumab, a drug recently introduced by the NHS. The study, which tracked 117 European patients treated with chemotherapy and bevacizumab, aims to spare thousands from ineffective treatments and severe side effects like blood clots. Bevacizumab works by depriving tumors of growth proteins but is only effective for a small subset of patients. By integrating complex genetic data, PhenMap identifies patterns and specific gene mutations linked to negative reactions, allowing clinicians to pinpoint patients least likely to benefit. With nearly 10,000 advanced bowel cancer cases diagnosed annually in the UK and low survival rates for late-stage diagnoses, this precision medicine approach offers significant potential. However, experts note that larger cohort testing is required for validation. The ultimate goal is to create a clinical test ensuring personalized care, maximizing treatment efficacy while minimizing unnecessary harm for those who would not respond to the drug.
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AI Tool PhenMap Predicts Bowel Cancer Drug Response to Spare Patients Ineffective Treatment
Researchers from London’s Institute of Cancer Research and RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences in Dublin have developed PhenMap, an AI-driven tool designed to predict how patients with advanced bowel cancer will respond to bevacizumab, a drug recently introduced by the NHS. The study, which tracked 117 European patients treated with chemotherapy and bevacizumab, aims to spare thousands from ineffective treatments and severe side effects like blood clots. Bevacizumab works by depriving tumors of growth proteins but is only effective for a small subset of patients. By integrating complex genetic data, PhenMap identifies patterns and specific gene mutations linked to negative reactions, allowing clinicians to pinpoint patients least likely to benefit. With nearly 10,000 advanced bowel cancer cases diagnosed annually in the UK and low survival rates for late-stage diagnoses, this precision medicine approach offers significant potential. However, experts note that larger cohort testing is required for validation. The ultimate goal is to create a clinical test ensuring personalized care, maximizing treatment efficacy while minimizing unnecessary harm for those who would not respond to the drug.
The Guardian