— Researchers with the UW Carbone Cancer Center are developing AI techniques to improve personalized treatments and avoid unnecessary biopsies and surgeries.
Pallavi Tiwari is co-director of imaging and radiation science at the Madison-based cancer center and an associate professor of radiology and biomedical engineering at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health. Her team is gathering MRI scans from clinical sites around the world to train artificial intelligence models to predict how patients will respond to treatment.
“We want to personalize treatment for every patient based on the kind of tumor that they have,” she said in remarks provided by UW Health
One promising application of this technology aims to help patients with an aggressive form of brain cancer called glioblastoma, Tiwari said. After treatment, these patients have to return for follow-up care due to the high risk of recurrence. With currently available tools, specialists are unable to tell the difference between a benign noncancerous lesion caused by the radiation treatment and new tumor growth.
But with the new AI tools being developed, “we have over 90 percent accuracy in distinguishing patients who have a benign radiation side effect from patients who have tumor recurrence,” she said. For patients with noncancerous lesions, that means they don’t have to undergo invasive, unnecessary biopsies or surgeries.
“We are continuing to move forward, and we are actually planning a clinical trial on this where we can prospectively demonstrate the value of these models in conjunction with the radiologist,” she said.
Tiwari also explained chemotherapy radiation treatment will fail in 40 percent of brain cancer patients within six months of treatment. She says the AI tools in development could help predict which patients will see a positive response, guiding selections for clinical trials and improving the likelihood of treatment success.
Meanwhile, researchers also want to use machine learning tools to help neurosurgeons identify prime locations for biopsy sampling.
“That’s, in our mind, sort of a low-hanging fruit,” she said. “These patients right now, when they undergo biopsy, very often neurosurgeons go in in a blinded way, because they don’t know where to take the biopsy from.”
— Exact Sciences is touting new research showing the impact of a blood-based test for the early detection of cancer.
The Madison-based cancer diagnostics company on Friday announced it will be presenting its latest study findings at the upcoming annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago. That includes the company’s “Detecting cancers Earlier Through Elective mutation-based blood Collection and Testing” study, or DETECT-A.
According to the release, all participating patients who were diagnosed and treated for cancers in their first two stages have no cancer more than four years later. And half of all patients whose cancer was detected were “successfully treated and remain cancer free” more than four years after the initial test.
Dr. Tom Beer, the company’s chief medical officer for multi-cancer early detection, says these findings “confirm Exact Sciences’ approach to detecting multiple cancers at earlier stages of disease, and show that early detection enables successful treatment and long-term freedom from cancer in patients.”
He says most cancers currently have no screening option, and providing an accurate test for detecting multiple cancers is key to lowering cancer deaths.
The company will also be presenting data on its Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score test — which predicts the likelihood of breast cancer recurrence and the potential benefit of chemotherapy — as well as the latest findings on its colon cancer screening test called Cologuard.
— The state’s largest business group is threatening to go to court to block regulations that would force stricter limits on surface water pollution.
Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce says it may take legal action if DNR doesn’t address it and other groups’ charge that the regulations’ costs exceed what is permitted under state law — by more than $50 million over two years.
“If the DNR chooses to ignore those comments and continues its efforts to promulgate what we think is a rule that does not comply with Wisconsin law, yes, litigating is absolutely an option we would consider,” WMC Executive Vice President of Government Relations Scott Manley told WisPolitics.
Meanwhile, Mike Mikalsen, chief of staff for Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules Co-chair Steve Nass, told WisPolitics the Whitewater Republican senator is waiting for the final language on the rule. But Nass has “serious concerns” about it and believes the DNR’s estimated costs to implement it fall far below what it would actually cost.
See more at WisPolitics.com: https://www.wispolitics.com/2023/fri-pm-update-wmc-threatens-lawsuit-over-dnrs-proposed-surface-water-pollution-regulations
— Green Bay Packers president and CEO Mark Murphy says he’s had initial conversations with some state lawmakers about the proposal to use $2 million in state money to help pay for costs associated with Green Bay hosting the 2025 NFL Draft.
“It would obviously be very helpful, and we’re hopeful we’ll be able to get that funding,” Murphy said on WISN’s “UpFront,” which is produced in partnership with WisPolitics. “It’s economic development. It’s going to benefit the state, and it’s good for everybody.”
Rep. David Steffen, a Green Bay-area Republican lawmaker, said the motion will go before the Joint Finance Committee to be included in the state budget.
“I have to tell you, I think this is going to be one of the easiest pieces of legislation I’ve worked on in nine years,” Steffen said.
Steffen rejected comparisons to the Brewers funding debate, where Gov. Tony Evers has proposed using $290 million from the state surplus to help with long-term maintenance and renovation obligations.
“This is really a tourism, short-term event with long-term benefit, which is much different than spending money to retain a professional sports team, much different discussion,” Steffen said.
The Packers estimate it will cost roughly $7.5 million to host the event. The Packers have committed $1 million from the team and vowed to raise an additional $4.5 million from private donors.
See more from the show: https://www.wisn.com/upfront
— This year’s Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference is being held tomorrow and Thursday at the Italian Community Center in Milwaukee.
The annual event, hosted by the Wisconsin Technology Council, will include presentations by finalists in the Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest, a keynote speech by International Business Innovation Association CEO Charles Ross, various panel discussions and more.
See more event details and register here:
#TOP STORIES#
# Master Lock leaving Milwaukee after 100 years despite being key area for Wisconsin manufacturing
# Bus rapid transit construction underway, to be completed next summer
# Madison-based startup Holos awarded $1.8 million government contract
#TOPICS#
# AGRIBUSINESS
– Unusual field conditions for some Wisconsin farmers
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=535&yr=2023
– New federal funding aims to offset high feed costs for organic dairy farms
# CONSTRUCTION
– Dane County awards $6.85M for construction of new Centro Hispano building, expanding services for the community
– Milwaukee construction costs increase 1.1% in Q1, outpacing the national average
– Heated debate: Downtown building owner wants ok to install under-sidewalk heaters
– Anonymous donor pays for restoration of Oak Hill Cemetery chapel in Neenah
# ECONOMY
– Mississippi River shipping infrastructure is aging. Who should pay for the repairs?
# EDUCATION
– Registration open for Wisconsin’s farm and industry short course
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=533&yr=2023
# ENVIRONMENT
– Land purchase aims to expand access to Lake Superior and protect habitat for at-risk shorebird
# HEALTH CARE
– Kits with Narcan, fentanyl test strips are being handed out by first responders in Milwaukee County
# MEDIA
– ‘We will step in’ if Diamond Sports bankruptcy shuts out Brewers telecasts, MLB commissioner says
# POLITICS
– Wisconsin congressman seeks Farm Bill input
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=534&yr=2023
# REAL ESTATE
– Vets Place Central’s $19.5 million expansion could start by fall
– New Land Enterprises could expand to Green Bay with apartment project
– Microsoft completes $50 million land purchase for Mount Pleasant data center
# RETAIL
– Waukesha-based business shaking up cannabis industry with its pressed THC pills
# SMALL BUSINESS
– Willy Street Eats makes grandma proud with jerk chicken and BBQ
– Nigerian fashion brand with Marquette ties among winners of $10K Milwaukee startup grant
# SPORTS
– Indoor pickleball courts to come to Milwaukee in the next year
# TOURISM
– Madison Adventure Tours invites visitors to see the city by e-bike
# TRANSPORTATION
– What WisDOT’s $1.2B project to widen East-West Freeway corridor in Milwaukee means for the community
# COLUMNS
– Opinion: Canceled flights, clogged roads, still no high-speed rail
# PRESS RELEASES
<i>See these and other press releases:
http://wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Content=82 </i>
Kaylee’s Gift Cottage: Introduces ice cream for dogs
Kona Ice: Brings a one-of-a-kind experience to residents in Monona and Madison
