Optimizing Cancer Prediction in Ontario: Leveraging Electronic Medical Records and Machine Learning for Early Detection
Description: The role of cancer screening is to detect cancer before it has spread beyond the organ of origin. For many types of cancer, early detection can lead to a superior prognosis and better overall survival. There are a few blood-based screening tests that are elevated when cancer is present, such as cancer antigen 125 (CA125) for ovarian cancer. Unfortunately, these tests perform poorly at the population level because they are expensive, not routinely ordered, and only detect a specific type of cancer. A better selection of inexpensive biomarkers that target a variety of cancer types is needed. Research has shown that changes in commonly measured blood components (for example, elevated platelets or lipids) can occur when cancer is present. Thus, the goal of our proposed study is to evaluate whether using existing information from a large database from Ontario with over 4.1 billion routine laboratory test results from 12 million residents can identify people who have a high risk of cancer. We will first identify common laboratory tests that are related to cancer and then ensure these tests are robust and applicable to all Canadians and other populations. Secondarily, we will apply a similar strategy targeting women at extremely high risks of developing breast and ovarian cancer. We have assembled a group of national and international scientists, trainees, and clinicians, as well as patient partners and policy makers, with the necessary expertise to help develop a tool to detect cancer at its earliest stage. This will be the first application of unique machine learning methodology and for the purpose of cancer risk prediction. Earlier detection of disease with routine blood tests has the potential to reduce the proportion of late-stage cancers and significantly impact upon morbidity and mortality rates, as well as healthcare costs.
Amount: CA$100,000
Funding type: research
Funder scheme: Project Grant - Priority Announcement: Early Detection/Cancer Prevention
Start date: 2024-03-01
End date: 2025-02-28
Investigator: Joanne Kotsopoulos
Institution: Women's College Hospital (Toronto)
Funded outputs count: 0
Funder award ID: 192066_1
OpenAlex ID: G5127325622