Ohio State researchers developing AI model to detect cancer early

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A new artificial intelligence tool could help doctors detect breast cancer earlier and predict when it might return, part of new research underway at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital.

Dr. Arya Roy, a breast medical oncologist at The James, leads the project focused on lobular breast cancer — a type that can be difficult to identify on mammograms because it often spreads in thin cell lines instead of forming a lump. Roy said her team is currently training the AI model using patient data to help it recognize patterns linked to breast cancer recurrence.

“Artificial intelligence will be able to identify the things that a human eye is not able to see from the pathology images,” Roy said. “Right now we are creating it and we are feeding the artificial intelligence model with several digital pathology images of several patients.”

The tool is designed to predict which patients face the highest risk of cancer recurrence, giving doctors a chance to intervene sooner and tailor follow-up care more effectively. Roy said the project remains in early stages and will take a few years to validate before moving into clinical trials.

For breast cancer survivor and advocate Bess Hagans, those advances offer hope. Diagnosed with stage 3 hormone-positive breast cancer at age 32 — just 10 months after giving birth — she endured chemotherapy, surgery, and long-term recovery.

“Recurrence is the scariest part about being a survivor. So, I’m very scared that the cancer will come back,” Hagans said.

Now cancer-free, Hagans leads Thriving Beyond Breast Cancer, an organization that helps women navigate the challenges of treatment and survivorship. She believes AI-based tools could give families a better chance at catching the disease before it advances.

“I think that we’re talking about a technology that could really help a vulnerable population,” Hagans said. “And I think when thinking of AI and how we could use it for good, this feels like a very powerful tool.”

Roy said her team hopes the AI model will eventually provide a new level of precision in breast cancer care — identifying risk factors earlier and improving survival rates.