China Develops AI Tool to Predict Liver Cancer Recurrence

A Chinese research team has developed an AI tool capable of predicting the risk of liver cancer recurrence with up to 82% accuracy, according to a study recently published in the journal Nature.

The Xinhua News Agency reported on Monday that researchers from the University of Science and Technology of China, led by Sun Zheng, developed a scoring system called "TIMES," which measures the spatial distribution patterns of immune cells within the tumor microenvironment to assess the likelihood of relapse. This system is the world's first liver cancer recurrence prediction tool that integrates spatial immunological data.

The study showed that the spatial organization of immune cells, not just their quantity, determines clinical outcomes. By combining spatial transcriptomics, proteomics, multispectral immunohistochemistry, and AI-based spatial analysis, the team created a new method for assessing the tumor microenvironment. The system was trained using liver cancer tissue samples taken from 61 patients.

The researchers have made a free online version of the system for assessing the spatial distribution patterns of immune cells within the tumor microenvironment available, allowing users around the world to upload histological scan images for immediate risk assessment.

A member of the team of experts who developed the new software explained that the goal of this software is to provide a revolutionary decision-making tool to help doctors optimize individualized treatments, especially in resource-limited settings. He added that they are currently collaborating with industry partners to standardize clinical applications.

Liver cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with a recurrence rate after surgery of up to 70%. Therefore, accurate prediction of recurrence of this cancer is crucial.

Source: DPA - https://ar.rt.com/zhmf - Published on 17-3-2025