Studies have proved that gastric cancer is the fifth most common cancer among males and the seventh most common cancer among females in India. The casualty of the disease and the need for enhancement in therapeutic options is determined by the fact that gastric cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death around the world.

The increased incidence of local and distant recurrence, even in patients with completely resectable gastric cancer, shows the systematic spread of cancer at a very early stage; this highlights the need for multimodality treatment, which includes surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy for the disease treatment.

What is a CAD EYE system?

The CAD EYE system is predominantly an empowering tool that leverages the power of AI technology to aid gastroenterologists in the early detection and categorisation of abnormal growth in the GI tract. This can be considered the second part of the present AI diagnostic technology currently available for colon detection.

Furthermore, the AI mainly operates in three visualisation modes: White light, LCI (Linked Color Imaging), and BLI (Blue Light Imaging). LCI improves the visibility of abnormal lesions and inflammation using a combination of light settings, while BLI amplifies the detected growth for improved pattern analysis of cells.

The technology introduces the Landmark Photo Checker, which helps in the proper observation of crucial stomach landmarks and addresses lesion errors and blind spots. These advancements simplify lesion navigation and save valuable time and lives compared to the conventional methods.

CAD EYE AI system for gastrointestinal cancer detection

The Ruby Hall Clinic recently partnered with FUJIFILM India and announced the installation of its first-ever, state-of-the-art CAD EYE Artificial Intelligence system, a pioneering technology developed to improve the early prediction of gastrointestinal cancers. This collaboration is pioneered by Dr Nitin Pai, Director of Gastroenterology and GI Endoscopy at Ruby Hall Clinic and Pune GI Private Limited, showing a significant milestone in Pune’s healthcare landscape.

Installing the CAD EYE AI system in Pune addresses a persistent concern in the domain. Similar to several parts of India, Pune challenges a growing threat, as gastric cancer ranks as the fifth most dangerous cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally in 2020, according to a Lancet study. The insufficient cancer treatment infrastructure and limited systematic studies in India worsen the issue.

Moreover, Dr Pai told the media that there has been an increase in stomach cancer in the past decade, with India exhibiting a comparatively higher rate than many of the Western countries. Therefore, the need for early detection becomes a crucial tool in combating these life-threatening diseases. With the help of CAD EYE AI, the burden of GI cancer in India can be reduced to a certain extent. He also stated that launching the first-ever Artificial Intelligence system CAD EYE in Pune was a huge milestone.

The CAD EYE system rolled out in Pune incorporates advanced AI algorithms and real-world data that aids in spotting and categorising suspected lesions during the process of colonoscopies. Furthermore, it excels in the early detection of gastric flat lesions in gastrointestinal endoscopy and addresses a crucial need for the system in areas burdened by the rise in incidence rates of oesophagal, stomach, liver, and colorectal cancers. The CAD EYE AI system helps in timely intervention and boosts the chances of treatment success by increasing the accuracy in diagnosis and enhancing the adenoma detection rates.

Dr. Purvez Grant, Chairman and Managing Trustee of Ruby Hall Clinic, stated this emerging technology has renewed hope in combating GI cancers in our country. “The potential of AI-enabled endoscopy in preventing serious and life-threatening conditions like stomach and colon cancer by screening for them at the precancerous stage is a crucial juncture in Pune”, Behram Khodaiji, Group CEO of Ruby Hall Clinic, added.

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash