NHS cancer centre co-develops the world’s first AI-based tool for specialist cervical cancer treatment

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The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in Liverpool has partnered with Canadian software company Limbus AI* to trial and co-develop the world’s first commercial AI-based auto-contouring tool for a specialist cervical cancer treatment known as brachytherapy.

Brachytherapy is a type of radiotherapy that involves placing an intense radiation source inside or in close contact with tumour cells. This makes it particularly well suited to treating tumours in particular parts of the body such as the cervix.

Although it is highly effective, some patients can find cervical brachytherapy uncomfortable as it involves lying flat for several hours with an applicator in place so clinical teams and physicists can plan and deliver the treatment.

Using an AI-based tool to reduce the length of time this takes could therefore significantly benefit patients as well as the professional teams involved.

Yet, although these tools have been used for some years in traditional radiotherapy planning, until now there has been nothing similar available for cervix brachytherapy patients – arguably, the group that would benefit from it the most.

Clinicians and clinical scientists (physicists) at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in Liverpool – which in 2019 was one of the first UK hospitals to use AI in radiotherapy treatment planning – spotted this gap and approached contacts at Limbus AI to suggest collaborating on a solution.

The two organisations have worked together to develop and test the world’s first commercial AI-based auto-contouring software modules for cervix brachytherapy. The tool has been successfully trialled at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre and other hospitals and has just been launched commercially in the UK for use in clinical practice.

It works by recognising and automatically outlining important organs in the body on MRI scans. Cervix brachytherapy is a complex process because every patient has their own unique treatment plan, carefully designed to target their cancer and protect other critical body organs from radiation.

It is a daycase procedure that begins with the patient having an applicator inserted in theatre under general anaesthetic. Once recovered, they have an MRI scan that creates a slice-by-slice view of their cancer and the vital organs around it so clinicians and clinical scientists can create their treatment plan. The radiation treatment is delivered through the applicator and then the applicator is removed.

‘Contouring’ is a key part of the treatment planning process. It is traditionally done by an oncologist who must painstakingly go through every slice of the MRI scan and outline the critical body organs so they can be protected during treatment. This can take over an hour.

Although AI-based software already helps reduce this time in traditional radiotherapy planning by automatically outlining organs for clinicians to review and refine, this wasn’t the case for cervix brachytherapy.

Early clinical experience of the new AI-based tool at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre indicates an average time saving of around 13 minutes per treatment plan. As every patient needs three brachytherapy treatments, this could represent a significant improvement in patient experience. The total time saved for clinicians will also be significant.

Rhydian Caines, Principal Clinical Scientist at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, said:

“As a clinical team we are keenly aware that brachytherapy can be a difficult experience for patients and were frustrated that we couldn’t find an auto-contouring solution for brachytherapy, despite this technology being available in more traditional radiotherapy settings.

“The team at Limbus AI have been fantastic in answering our ‘call to action’ on this, and it has been a thrill to collaborate with them on bringing this system into existence.

“It’s early days and we’ll be continuing to work with Limbus on refining the AI models but we are encouraged by our early timing data and hope this will translate into an improved experience for our patients and those in lots of other cancer centres as well.”

Dr Anthea Cree, Consultant Clinical Oncologist at The Clatterbridge Cancer Cere, said:

“It’s brilliant that this is now available for cervical brachytherapy. Obviously it still needs to be checked by clinicians but it means we don’t have to do all the outlining from scratch. The accuracy is particularly good for the bladder which means I can focus more on other areas.

“Rhydian and our Brachytherapy team are very innovative and worked closely with Limbus AI to help develop this. It’s a privilege to work with such a forward-thinking team who are always looking at how we can improve things for our patients.”

Kevin Riddell, Limbus AI Product Manager, said:

“It’s been fantastic to work with Rhydian and the entire team at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, along with our other global partners, to bring this technology to patients.

“As a company founded by current and former radiation oncology clinicians, we share a common mission to create solutions that directly benefit cancer patients. We’re thrilled to see it making a real difference at The Clatterbridge and other centres around the world.”

What is an Innovation District?

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Innovation can be defined by many things – a new idea, a new product, a new method. This is the foundation of how an innovation district should be built. A collision of multiple forward thinking ideas that help to service or resolve a health, science or technology problem, through different urban communities and backgrounds collaborating towards one common goal, making our society a better place to live and work. 

 

What defines an innovation district? Why does innovation happen in one hub? Why is innovation important to those in and around these districts and the city as a whole? 

 

As defined by the UK Innovation Districts Group: “Innovation districts are urban areas with networks of knowledge-producing organisations such as universities, research bodies, teaching hospitals, cultural institutions, and knowledge-intensive businesses.”

 

There are a number of significant innovation districts across the UK, with twelve coming together as part of the UK Innovation Districts Group. They share a similar goal of promoting urban areas within their cities and connecting them to the wider commercial and business districts. 

 

KQ Liverpool

 

Knowledge Quarter Liverpool (KQ Liverpool) is a 450-acre innovation district in Liverpool City Centre which aims to provide a connective hub for its science and technology businesses – start-ups, scale-ups and established organisations – alongside universities and NHS Trusts. 

 

As the strategic place-shaping organisation tasked with driving forward Liverpool’s innovation district, we deliver business support programmes for startups and growing SMEs to drive collaboration and growth.

 

We also aim to enhance the skills base among local students and break down any barriers to entry for many in the Liverpool City Region. In doing so, we hope to curate a future pipeline of innovators within our local workforce and inspire them to make their own mark on the city region’s science and technology ecosystem.

 

By intervening early, we hope to nurture students’ interest in science and technology and create a lasting legacy of highly skilled employees, while also promoting an attractive destination for external talent, across a range of successful, dynamic businesses.

 

Innovation in motion

 

Statistics show that an innovation district, through the work of its partners and key stakeholders, can have a significant impact on its local community and surrounding areas. 

 

KQ Liverpool contributes an estimated £1 billion gross added value for the City Region, with an aspiration to increase this further by 2030. It also supports more than 14,000 jobs and our objective is to help create an additional 10,000 additional roles over the next decade.

Any innovation is only as successful as its interest, investment and opportunity. For emerging talent to have a clear path for their career, we need forward-thinking science and technology businesses to provide those opportunities. 

 

New spaces are essential to facilitate these emerging businesses and an innovation district is the perfect place to begin that journey. There are currently more than 1,200 science and technology SMEs located in the Liverpool City Region – coworking and flexible office spaces in modern facilities provide them with a perfect platform for growth. 

 

KQ Liverpool’s spin-out development company Sciontec is bringing forward the development of new office and lab spaces in the innovation district, most notably HEMISPHERE One and Two, which will further cement the innovation district as a crucial part of the City Region.

 

Innovation and Regeneration

 

Investment in innovation is vital in establishing the district as a force for regeneration and transformational economic growth. The Liverpool City Region Health and Life Sciences Investment Zone is designed exactly for that, providing local economic growth to these areas by providing funding to advance the innovation agenda.

 

Having this continued support for an innovation district can allow occupiers within the space to thrive and create real opportunities for young innovators and entrepreneurs. KQ Liverpool alone has grown 20% over the past five years, with an estimated 40% of SMEs exporting their products or services to international markets. The tech sector alone has seen a 30% increase over the past 5 years, supported by investment from local and central government.

 

The development of any innovation district must be aligned with any current or future developments across the wider City Region as different places vie to attract the brightest and the best. In turn, having strong innovation districts around the UK, including the North, can help to diversify the workforce and attract and retain talent from different backgrounds and representations.

 

KQ Liverpool’s future vision will continue to encompass the concept of inclusive innovation and our work with students of all ages to understand the career paths available in the City Region. An outlined vision gives the district a common goal, one that once aligned with the local city goals, can help to accomplish. 

 

An innovation district should become the heartbeat of any City Region looking to capitalise on the emerging talents and pioneering businesses on its doorstep. This in turn will attract international businesses, provide new career opportunities and continuously drive improvement in the health, wellbeing and prosperity of individuals across the community.