AI-driven technology for lung cancer detection now in PH

MANILA, Philippines – Advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technology that can help detect lung cancer is now available in the Philippines, where 23,728 new cases of the second most common type of cancer among Filipinos were reported by World Health Organization. (WHO) in 2022 only.

Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and private healthcare provider Ayala Healthcare Holdings Inc. (AC Health) partnered last month with healthcare startup Qure.AI to bring qXR, an AI-assisted X-ray technology, to Healthway Cancer Care Hospital in Taguig City and Healthway Qualimed. Hospital of Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

READ: Redefining lung cancer care through early intervention and individualized treatment

The agreement was signed by Ti Hwei How, AstraZeneca’s vice president for International Oncology and Market Access; Lotis Ramin, country president of AstraZeneca Philippines; and Paolo Borromeo, AC Health president and CEO.

Qure.AI’s qXR is the world’s most widely used chest x-ray AI in over 2,000 healthcare facilities in over 80 countries. 15 million, it can provide doctors with an early reading in 20 seconds, to detect abnormalities in the lungs, heart, diaphragm and bones.

READ: Expert talks about lung cancer causes, symptoms, effects

During a routine lung cancer screening, radiologists will check a chest X-ray for abnormalities, especially nodules.

But sometimes, the radiologist can miss those lumps. That’s where qXR will come in. The AI ​​software will alert the radiologist, highlighting where the missing nodule is,” said Brahgava Reddy, Qure.AI’s chief business officer for oncology.

The patient will then be examined by computed tomography and lungs, before the oncologist (cancer specialist) can give a diagnosis.

Zero false positives

Reddy cited several studies of how qXR was able to detect “95 percent” of abnormal tumors that were missed or mislabeled by radiologists, with false positives.

For Menchie Auste, senior vice president of the non-profit Cancer Coalition Philippines, making lung cancer screening quick and easy will motivate many people, especially male smokers who are at high risk, to conduct an examination.

“Health literacy is a problem for people. “Some people are afraid of being diagnosed with lung cancer because they fear it will be like a lot of surgery,” he said.

The main reason

According to the WHO, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, accounting for the highest number of deaths in both men and women. It is usually diagnosed in advanced stages when treatment options have been limited.

Lung cancer is also the second most common cancer among Filipinos, and the leading cause of death among those diagnosed with cancer, killing 20,953 in 2022 alone.

The QXR will be used as a diagnostic tool to improve the effectiveness of who should undergo a low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scan, which costs at least P10,000 and is offered by only a few hospitals in the country.

LDCT is found to reduce lung cancer deaths by 20 percent due to early detection.

Although experts have recommended using LDCT to screen high-risk individuals, it is still not widely implemented in routine lung cancer screening due to limited access.

AstraZeneca is part of the Lung Ambition Alliance, a global alliance committed to accelerating progress in lung cancer survival rates and outcomes.

Borromeo said that patients benefit when innovation comes to health care, adding, “AC Medical Network and Healthway Cancer Care Hospital continue to provide high-quality oncology services because we work with some of the best partners around the world, AstraZeneca is one of them.”