The landscape of oncology practice is rapidly evolving with artificial intelligence integration, according to a new survey conducted by OncLive®. The study, which gathered responses from 30 oncologists, reveals widespread adoption of AI tools while highlighting persistent concerns about their validity and ethical implications.
Current AI Adoption Patterns
Nearly half of surveyed oncologists (43.3%) report using AI tools for document management and communication purposes. Other significant applications include imaging analysis and treatment decision support systems, each utilized by 26.7% of respondents. The majority of participants (63.3%) anticipate a significant increase in AI integration within the next 5-10 years.
The survey sample predominantly comprised academic oncologists (66.7%), followed by community medical oncologists (16.7%), with smaller representations from surgical oncology, hematology, and radiation oncology specialties.
Clinical Applications and Opportunities
Patrick I. Borgen, MD, chair of the Department of Surgery at Maimonides Cancer Center, emphasizes AI's growing importance in decision support systems. "Artificial intelligence is an inescapable reality for all our futures," he states, highlighting its current use in appointment management and potential in complex treatment decision-making.
Oncologists identified several promising areas for AI development, including:
- Imaging definition in radiological cancer staging
- Clinical trials screening
- Analysis of genomic findings
- Treatment decision support
- Patient outcome prediction
- Documentation and note management
Validity Concerns and Limitations
Despite growing adoption, significant concerns persist regarding AI's accuracy and reliability. A notable demonstration at the upcoming Miami Breast Cancer Conference reveals that leading AI platforms like ChatGPT and Google Gemini achieved approximately 70% accuracy on various breast cancer board examinations, showing particular weakness in image and pathology analysis.
"That's not bad, unless you're using Dr. Google, [in which case] there's a 30% chance that the answer [you find] is not correct," notes Dr. Borgen, emphasizing the importance of understanding AI tools' limitations.
Ethical and Practical Challenges
Healthcare providers expressed several key concerns about AI implementation:
- Patient privacy and HIPAA compliance
- Potential perpetuation of systemic biases
- Impact on doctor-patient relationships
- Data security and confidentiality
- Integration with personalized patient care
Survey respondents particularly emphasized worries about AI's ability to account for nuanced patient presentations and goals of care, as well as potential implications for healthcare disparities.
Future Outlook
While acknowledging AI's limitations, experts stress its inevitability in healthcare's future. Dr. Borgen draws an analogy to self-driving cars, suggesting a measured approach to adoption: "With the complexities of oncology, to suggest that we're not going to need help in how we match treatment with disease is foolish. [AI is] going to be a central part of [that process]."
The technology's role is expected to evolve from a supplementary tool to an integral component of oncology practice, though human oversight remains crucial. As Dr. Borgen concludes, "It's not going to put us out of a job. It's going to make our job different."
