Dr. Peter A. Najjar discusses the impact of artificial intelligence on healthcare, particularly cancer detection.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing cancer care, with researchers developing tools that can help diagnose some of the deadliest cancers earlier than doctors alone.
Dr. Peter A. Najjar, a surgeon and vice president of the Johns Hopkins Health System, joined FOX Business' Maria Bartiromo on “Mornings with Maria” to discuss how artificial intelligence is already helping researchers improve cancer detection, accelerate drug development and make patient care more efficient, while stressing that more measurable impact is still needed before full real-world evidence is available.
Najjar pointed to a recent study involving pancreatic cancer, saying that artificial intelligence models are helping researchers see patterns that would have taken doctors decades of experience to spot.
AI-powered analysis of CT scans shows promise in helping doctors detect deadly cancers early, giving patients more treatment options. (Gorodenkoff/Getty Images)
Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest types of cancer because it is often diagnosed after it has spread beyond the pancreas. According to the American Cancer Society, the relative five-year survival rate is 13%. But when pancreatic cancer is detected before it spreads outside the pancreas, the five-year survival rate rises to 44%.
The disease has claimed the lives of several well-known people, including Apple founder Steve Jobs, who died of a rare form of pancreatic cancer; actor Patrick Swayze, known for his role in “Dirty Dancing”; and the beloved “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek, emphasizing the devastating cost of the disease, which is often difficult to detect in its early stages.
US Bank Asset Management Group senior investment strategist Rob Haworth discusses healthcare as a laggard sector benefiting from AI advancements in 'The Claman Countdown.'
“Researchers were able to identify pancreatic cancer symptoms up to 16 months earlier than human subjects,” said Najjar. “Discovery always allows us more treatment options.”
Besides early detection, Najjar said artificial intelligence is accelerating drug discovery by allowing scientists to test potential treatments using computer models before moving on to laboratory testing.
HOW TRUE INTELLIGENCE CHANGES LIVES
“A lot of cancer treatments are close to finding which molecule binds to the right protein for a given cancer,” Najjar said, explaining that AI is “greatly accelerating drug development.”
Although the technology has generated a lot of excitement, Najjar cautioned against boasting about its current capabilities.
National Coordinator of Health Information Technology Dr. Thomas Keane unveils drug pricing plan expected to save $529 billion and use of AI in medicine in 'The Bottom Line.'
“We must move forward very quickly to bring this promise to our patients in the clinic,” he said. “But it's too early.”
Currently, one of the most immediate benefits of artificial intelligence is improving the patient experience. Najjar said AI-powered medical scribes can organize records before appointments and automatically book visits, allowing doctors to spend less time typing and focus on their patients.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM
