Personalized Breast Cancer Digital Twins
Spanish researchers are pioneering the creation of “digital twins” for breast cancer patients, utilizing data from wearable devices to enhance treatment precision.
In a collaborative effort involving 13 Spanish institutions, including hospitals and associations, genetic, physiological, and behavioral information is gathered from patients using wearable devices.
This comprehensive dataset is then processed with artificial intelligence (AI) to develop accurate digital models of breast cancer patients.
Miguel Quintela, the director of the Clinical Research Programme at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), highlights the limitations of traditional treatments.
He emphasizes the potential of digital models, stating, “If this patient digital model is accurate enough, you can simulate millions of disease trajectories resulting from modifying one patient factor or another.”
The objective is to simulate and predict various disease trajectories, allowing researchers to tailor treatment plans based on individual patient factors.
The researchers hope that this personalized approach will lead to more effective treatments and improved patient outcomes.
Breast cancer, the leading cause of cancer deaths among women in Spain, claims 685,000 lives globally each year, as reported by the World Health Organization in 2020.
Current treatment guidelines are often designed for an “average patient,” and experts argue for more personalized and adaptable approaches.
Participants, including Yolanda Ramos, a 54-year-old hairdresser with triple-negative breast cancer, contribute to the “Digital Twins” project.
Ramos emphasizes the significance of the wearable device, connected to a smartphone app, allowing patients to provide detailed information about their emotions and general well-being through questionnaires.
The wearable device and app enable patients to report on aspects such as chemotherapy side effects, emotional well-being, and relief from drugs, offering a more comprehensive view of their experiences than traditional clinical assessments.
The research team aims to publish results in the coming years, aspiring to develop complete treatment plans and dynamic interfaces for real-time monitoring of deviations from the desired treatment trajectory.
This innovative approach holds promise for revolutionizing breast cancer care, offering hope for more effective and personalized treatments in the future.
Re-reported from the article originally published in The euronews
