A new study led by researchers from Moffitt Cancer Center, in collaboration with the University of Michigan, suggests that artificial intelligence (AI) can assist doctors in making better decisions when treating cancer.
However, it also highlights some challenges in how doctors and AI work together. The study, published in Nature Communications, focused on AI-assisted radiotherapy for two types of cancer: non-small cell lung cancer and liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma).
Radiotherapy is a common cancer treatment that uses high-energy radiation to destroy or shrink tumors. The study examined a new approach called knowledge-based response-adaptive radiotherapy (KBR-ART).
This method uses AI to analyze patient responses and suggest adjustments to improve treatment outcomes. The idea is that AI can help doctors fine-tune treatment based on each patient’s unique condition.
One of the key findings was that AI helped make doctors’ decisions more consistent, reducing variation in how different doctors approached treatment.
However, the technology did not always influence doctors’ final choices. In some cases, doctors disagreed with AI recommendations and made decisions based on their experience and patient-specific factors.
To test the impact of AI, the researchers asked doctors to make treatment decisions for cancer patients—first without AI assistance, then with AI-generated recommendations.
The AI system used patient data, such as medical imaging and test results, to suggest changes in radiation doses. Some doctors found these AI recommendations useful, while others preferred to rely on their own clinical judgment.
“While AI offers insights based on complex data, the human touch remains crucial in cancer care,” said Dr. Issam El Naqa, chair of Moffitt’s Machine Learning Department. “Every patient is unique, and doctors must make decisions based on both AI recommendations and their own expertise.”
The study also found that doctors were more likely to trust and follow AI suggestions when they felt confident in its accuracy. Building this trust is important for AI to be fully effective in medical decision-making.
“Our research shows that AI can be a powerful tool for doctors,” said Dr. Dipesh Niraula, an applied research scientist at Moffitt. “But AI works best as a support, not a replacement, for human expertise. Doctors bring experience and medical knowledge, while AI provides data-driven insights. The best results come from a combination of both.”
Review and Analysis
This study highlights the potential of AI to improve cancer treatment while also recognizing its limitations. AI can help doctors make more consistent treatment decisions, but its impact depends on whether doctors trust and accept its recommendations.
The study shows that AI is not yet advanced enough to replace human judgment, especially in complex cases where personal experience and patient-specific factors play a big role.
Another important takeaway is that integrating AI into medical practice requires more than just developing accurate algorithms. It also requires building a collaborative relationship between doctors and AI systems. If doctors do not trust AI-generated suggestions, they are less likely to use them, limiting the benefits of this technology.
Looking ahead, the researchers hope to explore how AI can be used in other areas of medicine. Their findings suggest that AI has great potential in healthcare, but its success will depend on how well it is integrated into doctors’ daily decision-making processes.
AI should be seen as a valuable assistant rather than a replacement for human expertise. By improving trust and communication between AI and doctors, this technology could help create more personalized and effective treatments for cancer patients.
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The research findings can be found in Nature Communications.
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