Our BowelScreen programme is taking part in a five-year research project exploring the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the effectiveness of bowel cancer screening.
The Microb-AI-ome research project aims to analyse gut or stool microbiome data to determine how effective it could be as a screening tool.
Clinical Director with our BowelScreen programme, Prof Pádraic Mac Mathúna explains that changes in the gut microbiome occur in people with bowel cancer or with the early signs of bowel cancer - abnormal tissue growths called polyps that can become cancerous over time. Using AI to perform a more detailed analysis of this microbiome data could improve the sensitivity for the early detection of bowel cancer.
Bowel screening programmes use a FIT test (faecal immunochemical test) to predict the need for colonoscopy to find early signs of bowel cancer. This screening method is effective at reducing bowel cancer incidence and deaths, but the limitations of this test can result in unnecessary colonoscopy treatments for some screening participants.
Using AI to analyse and read microbiome data is a novel approach that could reduce the number of colonoscopies needed as a screening tool, leading to significant cost-savings as well as reducing the harm of unnecessary treatment for some screening participants.
The research will involve the recruitment of 4,000 screening participants who have had a FIT-positive result and are undergoing colonoscopy – 2,500 in France, and 1,500 from our BowelScreen programme at the Mater and St Vincent’s hospitals in Dublin, and the Mercy hospital in Cork.
Recruitment of screening participants will start in the first quarter of 2024 and all patient data will be anonymised. This research has received ethical approval in Ireland and France. Samples will be analysed at the Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre (APC Microbiome Ireland) based in University College Cork.
The project will receive approximately €6 million from the EU’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme. Eight partner organisations from Ireland, France, Germany, Romania and Austria are involved in the project, combining international expertise in bowel cancer screening and treatment, microbiomics, AI, software development and privacy protection.
Prof Mac Mathúna said: “I think we may be using artificial intelligence microbiome data as a screening tool for bowel cancer in the years ahead, but it’s just too early to say exactly when. Certainly, the various elements of the technology necessary to use microbiome data are coming together, but we must demonstrate that this technology provides an accurate and reliable alternative to the FIT.
“I see this as the next step in our onward battle against bowel cancer. Our current screening methods can be effective in reducing bowel cancer mortality, but the use of AI-generated microbiome analysis has the potential to make our screening programme even more effective.”