With around 56,400 new cases per year, breast cancer is the most common cancer in females in the UK (Source: Cancer Research UK). There are several tests for breast cancer, including breast examinations, mammograms, scans and biopsies. A breast biopsy involves taking a sample of tissue from the breast and having it examined microscopically by specialist trained doctors called pathologists. They examine the sample to assess if the tissue contains cancerous cells and if further tests or treatments are needed. It is generally recommended that breast biopsies are diagnosed within five working days (RCPath).
Ibex Medical Analytics has developed a solution called Ibex Breast, to support pathologists and providers with artificial intelligence (AI) insights that may help improve the quality and accuracy of cancer diagnosis and reduce the time taken to get the result.
Health Innovation Oxford and Thames Valley (HIOTV) is a co-applicant to this government-backed grant (AI in Health and Care Award funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the NHS AI Lab and the Accelerated Access Collaborative).
The AI tool is being tested in four NHS trusts in England:
- Cambridge University Hospitals
- University Hospitals Birmingham
- Nottingham University Hospitals
- North West Anglia
The tool is also being test in one Health Board in Wales – Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. It will examine a total of 7,000 patients undergoing breast biopsy.
A patient panel with those who have lived/carer experience has been convened. It meets regularly and advises on the work undertaken within the grant. A leaflet has been created for patients at participating hospitals.
This leaflet uses the term ‘Assisted Intelligence’ as an alternative to ‘Artificial Intelligence’. Both terms describe how computer programmes can learn and solve problems.
A focused discussion group took place in May 2024 with men who have lived experience of breast cancer. The aim was to understand their experience of the pathway of care surrounding diagnosis and the utility, design and delivery of the Ibex Breast product. Read the report from the discussion group with men who have lived experience of breast cancer (pdf – link opens in new tab).