January 2026
January 2026
Chinese AI finds pancreatic cancer that doctors may miss.
PANcreatic cancer Detection with Artificial intelligence (PANDA)
The tool, PANDA, short for "Pancreatic Cancer Detection with Artificial Intelligence," developed in collaboration with Chinese tech giant Alibaba is one example of how Chinese tech companies and hospitals are raising to apply artificial intelligence to some of medicine's most stubborn problems.
Achievement of the tool
The tool found 20 cases of ductal adenocarcinoma, the most common and deadliest type of pancreatic cancer.
US FAO granted device status
- In April, the Alibaba said the US Food and Drug Administration has granted PANDA breakthrough device status, meaning that its review would be expedited to help it get to the market.
- It is also subject of several clinical trials in China.
Pancreatic cancer
- Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer with a 5 year survival rate of around 10% largely because early detection is so hard.
- Symptoms often do not appear until the cancer has advanced.
Tests to check the cancer
- Tests used to confirm its presence, such as the contrast CT scans, involve large amounts of radiation. So many experts advise against widespread screening.
- But lower radiation alternatives, such as non-contrast CTs in which no contrast dye is injected into the patient's bloodstream, produce less clearly defined pictures, making it hard for radiologists to identify the abnormalities.
Fill the space of shortage of specialists
The tool could be a valuable backstop for hospitals where specialists are in short supply, especially in rural areas.
