AI imaging to personalize rectal cancer care
Artificial Intelligence Imaging Predictors for Rectal Cancer Management
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 ID | NIH-11118695 on NIH RePORTER |
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.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with newly diagnosed rectal cancer being considered for neoadjuvant therapy, particularly Veterans receiving care at the Cleveland VA.
Not a fit: 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.
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 performed: 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
Cleveland, United States
- 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
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 below.