AI helps doctors with cancer care questions
Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used in cancer care, and its potential role may extend beyond oncologists and cancer specialists. According to Dr. Maurie Markman, professor of medical oncology and therapeutics research at City of Hope Cancer Center, AI could help physicians across specialties address complicated cancer-related questions.
Dr. Markman discussed how AI could help doctors outside of oncology weigh in on cancer-related questions, as patients with cancer often have other health conditions and see several physicians throughout their care. He noted that the majority of doctors asking questions about cancer are not oncologists, but rather family doctors, general internists, and other physicians.
AI’s Potential Role in Cancer Care
Dr. Markman explained that primary care doctors may be asked complex questions about cancer by their patients or their patients’ families, and AI could potentially help these doctors provide information. He emphasized that AI is not making the decision, but rather helping the physician become more informed when trying to help their patient.
When a patient has cancer as well as another health condition, such as diabetes or heart disease, AI could help pull together information from various sources, including FDA approvals, clinical trial data, and medical literature. Dr. Markman noted that AI could help different specialists communicate more effectively about a patient’s cancer care, bringing together information that a physician may not otherwise be able to recall or find quickly.
Dr. Markman described AI as something like a “curbside opinion,” providing input and insight to help physicians make decisions. He emphasized that the doctor must remain the person making the decision, and AI should not be relied upon to take over. Instead, AI can serve as a companion, providing information and prompting the physician to consider certain factors, such as germline testing or renal function.
As cancer treatment continues to become more complicated, Dr. Markman believes that AI could be especially helpful. With thousands of different diseases and therapeutics involved, it is impossible for any oncologist to know everything, making AI a valuable tool for handling this complexity. Dr. Markman noted that AI could help physicians consider factors they may not have thought of, such as a patient’s underlying endocrine disorder or blood sugar levels.
AI’s Potential Impact on Patient Education
Dr. Markman also discussed the potential for AI to help patients handle cancer information themselves. He noted that reliable AI platforms could become an incredible form of education, helping people find accurate information about cancer treatment and other topics. However, he also expressed concerns about the potential for misinformation and the need to ensure that AI platforms remain focused on providing high-quality information.
Dr. Markman emphasized the importance of assuring quality in AI platforms, particularly if they become proprietary and companies have financial relationships with them. He noted that the relationship between AI, physicians, and patients should be one in which the physician remains at the center, with AI providing information and insight to support decision-making. The City of Hope Cancer Center is working to develop AI platforms that can provide high-quality information to patients and physicians.
Dr. Markman’s comments highlight the potential for AI to improve cancer care. A patient with cancer may turn to their primary care physician with questions about their cancer treatment because they trust them.
