UST students develop AI-based app to detect risk for colorectal cancer 

Medicine students from the University of Santo Tomas have developed an application that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to detect one’s risk for colorectal cancer through blood. 

In the latest feature of “Game Changer” on “24 Oras” on Monday, Aamer Sultan and Austin De Asa are trying to produce a non-invasive alternative to colonoscopy. 

“Mga pasyente takot ‘yan sa colonoscopy diba. Ang pinaka product namin is an app to predict, to tell you whether given all your molecular results what is your probability of having colorectal cancer,” said project leader Dr. Pia Albano of the UST College of Science. 

(Patients are usually afraid to undergo colonoscopy. Our product is an app to predict, to tell you what is your probability of having colorectal cancer given all your molecular results.) 

According to the World Health Organization, colorectal cancer is the second common cancer-related death in 2020 worldwide. In the Philippines, it ranked fourth as the most common cancer death in 2022. 

The study used six microRNA (mirNA) which were first identified as possible “biomarkers” for colorectal cancer among Filipino patients. 

“Kapag may cancer ang isang tao, yung mga ibang miRNA, tumataas yung mga levels nila,  yung iba bumababa naman,” said Sultan. 

(If a patient is diagnosed with cancer, the miRNA levels of some elevate, while some decline.) 

“Luckily, there is previous research na po na nakapag-collect na po ng data, clinical trials and such. Our job was to integrate it or i-train yung AI,” said De Asa. 

(Luckily, there are previous researches that have already collected data, clinical trials, and such. Our job was to integrate it or train the AI.) 

The blood sample will undergo QPCR to determine the levels of the six mirNA that are associated with colorectal cancer. The correlating values will be matched together and click “Predict.” The software will now predict your risk of getting colorectal cancer. 

There’s also an option for more data analysis. 

The project won the BPI Innovation Awards in 2022. But the team seeks to screen more blood samples from various regions to produce an accurate detection. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/LDF, GMA Integrated News