Chinese researchers have unveiled a groundbreaking AI-powered tool capable of predicting liver cancer recurrence with 82.2% accuracy. Developed by a team led by Sun Cheng from the University of Science and Technology of China, the system, called TIMES, evaluates the spatial distribution of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment to assess relapse risk.
Liver cancer, one of the deadliest cancers globally, often sees a recurrence rate as high as 70% after surgical treatment. The TIMES tool stands out as the first to incorporate spatial immune data into relapse predictions, emphasizing the importance of how immune cells are positioned rather than their quantity.
The innovation combines advanced techniques, including spatial transcriptomics, proteomics, and multispectral immunohistochemistry, with AI analysis to create personalized insights. Trained on tissue samples from 61 patients, the tool is accessible online, letting users upload images for instant evaluation.
According to Cheng, this development could transform treatment planning for liver cancer, especially in resource-limited settings. Collaboration with industry partners is underway to standardize its clinical use and make it widely available.
