Cancer Research Horizons partners with Histofy to develop AI-based tools for the personalised treatment of colorectal cancer
Cancer Research Horizons, the innovation arm of Cancer Research UK, has announced a collaboration with Histofy, a leader in AI-driven histopathology solutions, to develop tools that predict how colorectal cancer patients respond to different treatment options using the multi-modal S:CORT dataset.
As part of the collaboration, Histofy will use digital pathology images, as well as clinical and molecular data, from the S:CORT dataset to further develop and validate AI models that stratify patients into sub-groups based on their likelihood of progressive disease and response to therapy.
The dataset contains clinically linked multi-omics data, including genomics, transcriptomics, epigenetics and digital pathology images, from over 1,700 colorectal cancer patients across 11 different cohorts. It was developed by the S:CORT (Stratification in COloRecTal Cancer) consortium, a multidisciplinary MRC- and Cancer Research UK-funded project aiming to improve the diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer, led by Professor Tim Maughan at the University of Oxford.
Colorectal cancer, also known as bowel cancer, is the fourth most common type in the UK, accounting for 11% of new cancer cases. In the UK, there are around 44,100 cases and 16,800 deaths from it per year (2017–2019 average).
Being able to predict which treatment a patient is most likely to respond to is crucial for selecting the most appropriate treatment and to ensure the best clinical outcomes. This can not only increase the likelihood of treatment being effective but also improve quality of life by limiting side effects experienced by patients. Currently, treatment decisions are made based on clinical features, as well as genomic and transcriptomic tests, which can be expensive. The use of AI tools to extract this information directly from images has the potential to reduce the overall burden to the NHS by providing information more quickly and accurately.
Tony Hickson, Chief Business Officer of Cancer Research Horizons, said: “Harnessing the power of AI and multi-modal patient data has the potential to transform how we treat colorectal cancer. By partnering with Histofy, we are enabling cutting-edge research that could lead to more personalised treatment strategies, ultimately improving outcomes for patients. This collaboration exemplifies our commitment to ensuring that patient-derived data is used responsibly and for maximum positive impact.”
Nasir Rajpoot, Chief Executive Officer of Histofy, said: “This partnership with Cancer Research Horizons marks a significant step towards harnessing AI to revolutionise colorectal cancer treatment. By leveraging the multi-modal S:CORT dataset, we are developing AI-driven tools that provide deeper insights into patient stratification and treatment response. Our goal is to accelerate precision diagnostics and make precision oncology more accessible, reducing the burden on healthcare systems while improving patient outcomes.”
This partnership aligns with Cancer Research Horizons’ Commercial Data Partnership Guiding Principles, ensuring safe and transparent use of patient-derived data with the primary aim of positive patient impact.
