Revolutionizing Cancer Diagnostics: Hong Kong and China's AI-Powered SmartPath System
A groundbreaking AI-driven pathology system, SmartPath, is set to transform cancer diagnostics across Hong Kong and mainland China. Developed by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), this innovative platform automates the entire pathology workflow, from slide analysis to reporting, with remarkable precision and efficiency.
SmartPath's AI Models and Training
SmartPath is built on two powerful AI models: the Generalizable Pathology Foundation Model and the Whole-slide Pathology Foundation Model. The former identifies tumors, subtypes cancers, and quantifies biomarkers, enabling predictions about patient survival and treatment responses. The latter combines various pathology data types to generate comprehensive reports automatically.
The system's training dataset is extensive, comprising over 500,000 whole-slide images across at least 34 cancer types, including lung, breast, colorectal, and gastric cancers, which are among the most common in Hong Kong. This diverse dataset, sourced from China, North America, and Europe, and covering a wide range of ages, enhances the system's generalisation capability, ensuring accuracy across different cancer types and patient populations.
Clinical Applications and Benefits
SmartPath assists with over 100 clinical tasks, including cancer classification, clinical diagnosis, subtyping, biomarker quantification, treatment response assessment, survival rate prediction, pathology report generation, and prognostic follow-up. By streamlining the pathology cycle, it enables pathologists to focus on complex cases, improving diagnostic turnaround and supporting personalized cancer treatment planning.
Real-World Validation and Impact
HKUST researchers collaborated with over a dozen hospitals in Hong Kong and mainland China to validate SmartPath's performance. The system demonstrated superior accuracy in diagnosing different cancer types, predicting survival rates, and generating detailed reports quickly. For instance, in a recent study at Nanfang Hospital in Guangzhou, SmartPath achieved over 95% accuracy in these critical areas.
Future Developments and Regulatory Approval
HKUST researchers are expanding SmartPath's capabilities to cover more cancer types, especially rare and genetically complex malignancies. They are actively seeking regulatory approvals for the system's widespread deployment, engaging with relevant bodies in mainland China and the Hong Kong SAR. With specific submissions underway, SmartPath has the potential to revolutionize cancer diagnostics and treatment, offering faster, more accurate, and personalized care to patients in the region.
