Lunit and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust are launching the world’s first prospective study of AI-powered breast screening in symptomatic clinics, using Lunit INSIGHT MMG. This innovative initiative aims to improve breast cancer detection, diagnosis efficiency, and address radiologist shortages. The study, running until the end of 2025, will involve 5,500 cases at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, comparing AI-assisted screening with traditional double reading. The collaboration seeks to transform breast cancer diagnosis and patient care.
Lunit, a leading provider of AI-driven solutions for cancer diagnostics and therapeutics, is teaming up with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to embark on a groundbreaking endeavor—the world’s first prospective study involving AI-powered breast screening in a symptomatic breast clinic setting, utilizing Lunit INSIGHT MMG. This pioneering initiative is set to revolutionize the field of breast cancer detection, streamline the diagnostic process, and address the issue of radiologist shortages. It aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Lunit INSIGHT MMG, an AI-based mammography analysis solution.
A symptomatic breast clinic environment is a specialized medical setting dedicated to diagnosing individuals presenting with breast-related symptoms. These clinics are crucial for conducting timely assessments and diagnoses. However, they often encounter challenges related to a shortage of radiologists. To tackle these challenges, Lunit and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust are launching an evaluation to determine whether Lunit INSIGHT MMG, when used alongside a human reader, is non-inferior to the current practice of double human reading.
This study builds upon the success of a previous retrospective study conducted by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust in collaboration with Lunit in a symptomatic breast clinic environment.
The study, slated to continue until the end of 2025, will involve 5,500 mammography cases of women visiting the breast clinic at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust in the UK. The participants will be divided into two groups: one group (2,750 women) will undergo the traditional double reading process, while the other group (2,750 women) will benefit from the expertise of two radiologists aided by Lunit INSIGHT MMG.
Brandon Suh, CEO of Lunit, commented, “Our collaboration with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust represents a historic milestone in advancing AI-powered breast cancer screening in symptomatic breast clinic environments. By combining our AI technology with Leeds’ clinical excellence, we are pioneering an approach that has the potential to enhance accuracy, expedite diagnoses, and alleviate the challenges posed by radiologist shortages.”
The primary objectives of this groundbreaking study include assessing and comparing the sensitivity and specificity of Lunit INSIGHT MMG within the mammography review process. Additionally, the study will evaluate the acceptability of Lunit INSIGHT MMG among patients and the NHS workforce while determining the cost-effectiveness of implementing this technology within the “one-stop” breast clinic model.
Dr. Nisha Sharma, Director of Breast Screening at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, remarked, “Breast cancer screening plays a pivotal role in early detection and improved outcomes, and innovations like the Lunit INSIGHT MMG AI tool hold immense promise. This study has the potential to reshape how we approach breast cancer diagnosis and optimize patient care.”
Dr. Nisha Sharma will present a detailed study plan at the EUSOBI 2023 (The European Society of Breast Imaging 2023) symposium, taking place from September 28 to 30.
