AI imaging to personalize rectal cancer care
Official title: Artificial Intelligence Imaging Predictors for Rectal Cancer Management
Funded at Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center · NIH-11118695 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Using artificial intelligence to read scans and help doctors pick the best treatment for people with rectal cancer, especially Veterans.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX006439-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11118695 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with newly diagnosed rectal cancer being considered for neoadjuvant therapy, particularly Veterans receiving care at the Cleveland VA.
✕Less likely to help
People without rectal cancer, patients with widespread metastatic disease not eligible for local management, or those lacking the required high-quality imaging may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
Researchers will apply advanced AI to CT/MRI images and clinical records from people with rectal cancer to predict how tumors respond to pre-surgery treatments. The goal is to identify patients who may have complete tumor response and could safely skip surgery with a watch-and-wait approach, as well as those who do not respond and need more aggressive therapy. The project focuses on Veteran patients, who are often older and have more other health problems, to make treatment more individualized for this group. Work will combine imaging analysis with patients' treatment and outcome data collected at the Cleveland VA.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could help some patients avoid major surgery when scans suggest complete response and help others get the right treatment sooner to reduce the chance of spread.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier AI imaging studies have shown promising signals for predicting tumor response but remain experimental and are not yet standard practice.
Where this research is happening
-
Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center
Cleveland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Viswanath, Satish Easwar — Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Viswanath, Satish Easwar
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Molecular Characterization of Radiation Effects in Rectal Cancer
A patient-facing platform study aims to link tissue changes, imaging, and the immune system during radiotherapy for rectal cancer to improve future treatments.
-
Immune System and Radiation in Rectal Cancer
This grant supports a small international study to understand how radiation therapy interacts with the immune system in rectal cancer by collecting tumor, blood, stool, and lymph node samples from patients before and after treatment.
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Targeting tryptophan metabolism to improve rectal cancer treatment
This NIH grant is exploring a new way to help people with locally advanced rectal cancer by combining radiation with a drug that blocks a pathway our immune system uses to protect tumors.
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Time-restricted eating during rectal cancer treatment to reduce toxicity and improve outcomes
A clinical trial tests whether eating only within a set time window during cancer treatment can reduce side effects and help treatments work better for rectal cancer patients.
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Enhancing Rectal Cancer Immunotherapy with Radiation-Induced Senescence and PTPN2 Inhibition
This grant explores a combo approach using radiation and a targeted inhibitor to boost the body's immune attack on rectal cancer, aiming to preserve the organ and reduce long-term side effects.
-
Early response to radiotherapy and immunotherapy in rectal cancer
A new approach combines short-course radiation, chemotherapy, and an immune therapy antibody to try to shrink rectal cancers before surgery or avoid surgery altogether.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.