Innovative Use of AI by Doctors to Enhance Radiation Therapy Precision

In recent developments at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, medical professionals are harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) to significantly improve the accuracy and effectiveness of radiation therapy for cancer patients. Dr. Harini Veeraraghavan, a computer scientist at MSK, leads efforts to develop AI models that enable more precise targeting of tumors while protecting surrounding healthy tissue.

Radiation therapy involves directing high-energy beams at cancer cells, requiring meticulous precision—each millimeter count. The challenge is compounded by the body's internal organs, which move and change shape due to natural processes like breathing, digestion, and fluid shifts. To address this, Dr. Veeraraghavan's team is creating sophisticated computer models, including virtual digital twins that simulate organ motion and shape variations, facilitating improved treatment planning.

This AI-driven approach is already being applied across over 40 tissue types, including in cancers of the head, neck, lung, pancreas, liver, and prostate. The integration of AI into clinical workflows involves a multidisciplinary effort, with radiation oncologists utilizing algorithms to automate and refine the contouring process—outlining organs and tumors on imaging scans—thus increasing accuracy, consistency, and efficiency.

Furthermore, AI models are instrumental in early tumor response assessment. By analyzing changes in tumor volume and hypoxia levels through standard PET scans, clinicians can determine whether treatments are effective sooner, allowing for timely adjustments. Such techniques help optimize radiation dosage, potentially reducing side effects and improving patient outcomes.

Overall, the AI innovations at MSK exemplify the transformative impact of artificial intelligence in medicine, improving treatment precision, reducing variability, and enhancing the ability to monitor and adapt cancer therapies in real time.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-doctors-ai-treatment.html