B.C. researchers lead AI breakthrough in endometrial cancer identification

Researchers in B.C. are using artificial intelligence to change how endometrial cancer is diagnosed and treated.

September is Gynecological Cancer Awareness month, and researchers at the LJ Blackmore Cancer Research Centre in Vancouver say they have developed groundbreaking innovations that could revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment of endometrial cancer.

According to Dr. Jessica McAlpine, endometrial cancer is increasing in both incidence and mortality.

“This is an incredibly common disease and is the most common gynecologic cancer,” she said.

McAlpine and Dr. Ali Bashashati, both leading researchers at UBC and LJ Blackmore, said their upcoming pilot project aims to expand on discoveries made through the use of artificial intelligence.

Last year, the pair developed a “deep learning AI model that analyzes images of tissue samples collected from patients,” as described in a statement from BC Cancer. The tool was able to differentiate between different subgroups of the cancer, and even identified a new subgroup that had “markedly inferior survival rates.”

“AI brought us up a level to add that level of precision,” said McAlpine.

They told CTV News AI has assisted in identifying high-risk endometrial cancers that traditional methods of diagnosis often miss. In addition to this, through the lens of AI, they believe doctors will be able to create treatment plans that are better tailored to the patient.

“The patterns are there. It’s just that we’re using AI to be able to identify those,” said Bashashati.

Bashashati explained that AI technology screens the tissue samples obtained through a biopsy or surgery.

“Once you use the AI, it puts them into one of the buckets,” Bashashati said. “OK, this is a good responder or a poor responder (to treatment).”

The doctors said the implementation of this AI technology provides medical professionals with more specific information than tools previously available. The information can be as specific as which portions of the tissue are contributing to the aggressiveness of the disease.

Both doctors believe that this technology is scalable and creates medical practices that no longer have “boundaries.” Specifically, this could benefit residents of rural and remote B.C. communities by not forcing them to come to the Lower Mainland for testing and treatment, potentially allowing them to continue to be treated within their community hospital.

“That’s very impactful for those patients, who will tell you how difficult it is to leave their support,” said McAlpine.

She added this new AI tool brings some optimism into a space that for patients can be fraught with anxiety.

“I think it does give us hope for that individual to change their trajectory,” she said.

The technology is not yet widely available; the pilot project is set to kick off January 2026.