In England, around four in five oesophageal and stomach cancers are diagnosed at an advanced stage as the early symptoms are vague. Survival is strongly linked to when the cancers are detected.
The pilot marks the first time in England that AI has been used to scan the health records of patients in primary care to help identify people who may be at risk of upper gastrointestinal cancers.
The pilot is delivered in partnership between AstraZeneca, Suffolk and North East Essex ICB, C the Signs, Health Innovation East, & GP Primary Choice.
Patients are identified using the C the Signs platform created by NHS doctors. The technology analyses routinely-collected clinical data within a patient's electronic health record alongside information given by patients to identify those who may be at increased risk of these cancers.
Eligible patients are invited by text message to complete a short digital assessment to evaluate their symptoms and risk factors. Where a cancer risk is identified, patients are rapidly assessed to determine the most suitable next step including capsule sponge testing, a CT scan, or urgent testing for suspected cancer.
The pilot will be delivered by GP Primary Choice from the Community Diagnostic Centre in Clacton and the Primary Care Centre in Turner Road, Colchester, helping to bring investigations closer to patients' homes and reduce pressure on acute hospital services.
C the Signs already supports more than 1,500 GP practices across England and is used by over 11,000 healthcare professionals. This new service builds on that existing NHS infrastructure to introduce a targeted, population-based approach to cancers that have historically been difficult to detect early.
Dr Peter Holloway, GP Cancer Lead for SNEE ICB and clinical lead for the project, said: 'We have developed unique and extensive local experience in community capsule sponge testing to improve diagnosis of oesophageal cancer. This project builds on our previous work but extends the scope to include all upper gastrointestinal cancers, including stomach and pancreas.
'By using a population health management approach developed within the ICB and introducing AI into patient self-assessment of those identified at increased risk, we hope to increase early cancer detection and thereby improve outcomes for cancers which can currently have a poor prognosis.'
Claire Greason, chief nursing officer at GP Primary Choice, added: ‘Through this project patients at higher risk of UGI cancers are proactively identified, and eligible individuals are offered a capsule sponge test, a quick, simple procedure that is a far less intrusive alternative to endoscopy.
‘This initiative is a strong example of organisations working collaboratively together to deliver proactive, preventative care for our community.'
Dr Bea Bakshi, GP and co-founder of C the Signs, said: ‘By using AI-enabled case finding in primary care, this pathway supports earlier identification of risk and faster access to diagnostics, giving more patients the chance to be diagnosed when treatment is more effective.'
Anna Arent, head of oncology at AstraZeneca UK, added: ‘Primary care plays a critical role in the diagnosis pathway, and by equipping frontline clinicians with advanced tools that support fast and accurate decision making, we can help diagnose more people at the right time and in the right setting.
‘This collaboration reflects AstraZeneca's commitment to accelerating earlier diagnosis through meaningful partnerships, taking us a step closer to one day eliminating cancer as a cause of death.'
