Abstract
BackgroundWatson for oncology (WFO) is a cognitive computing system providing decision support. We evaluated the concordance rates between the treatment options determined by WFO and those determined by a multidisciplinary team (MDT).MethodsWe reviewed the medical charts of patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer who visited the MDT at a single tertiary medical center from November 2016 to April 2017. WFO classified the treatment options for specific patients into three categories: ‘Recommended’, ‘For consideration’, and ‘Not recommended’. Concordance rates between the WFO- and MDT-determined chemotherapy options, and the factors that potentially influence the concordance rate, were analyzed.ResultsSixty-nine patients with colorectal cancer met with the MDT from Nov. 2016 to Feb. 2017. The mean age of the patients was 62 years (range: 34–86 years), and more patients were male (47/69) than female. Of the 69 patients, 51 (73.9%) were diagnosed with colon cancer, of whom 46.4% received the same regimen recommendation from WFO (‘Recommended’) as they did from the MDT. After inclusion of the ‘For consideration’ category from WFO, the concordance rate increased to 87.0%. The concordance rate between MDT and NCCN guidelines was 97.1%, and that between the WFO and NCCN guidelines was 88.4%. The concordance rates between WFO and MDT were significantly lower in patients with stage II, IIIC, or IV disease (P<0.001), and the colorectal cancer stage was the only statistically significant factor discriminating between WFO and MDT.ConclusionsThe concordance rate between chemotherapy regimens for colorectal cancer determined by MDT versus WFO recommendations was 46.4%. After including the ‘For consideration’ category from WFO, the concordance rate increased to 88.4%. Further modification and improvement of the WFO prioritizing algorithm used to recommend treatment may increase the usefulness of WFO in the clinic.
Highlights
Colorectal cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers, being the third most common in males and the second most common in females according to global cancer statistics [1]
Of the 69 patients, 51 (73.9%) were diagnosed with colon cancer, of whom 46.4% received the same regimen recommendation from Watson for oncology (WFO) (‘Recommended’) as they did from the multidisciplinary team (MDT)
After inclusion of the ‘For consideration’ category from WFO, the concordance rate increased to 87.0%
Summary
Colorectal cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers, being the third most common in males and the second most common in females according to global cancer statistics [1]. Chemotherapy options for patients with colorectal cancer are determined by multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) based on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines, recent studies in the literature, and clinical experience. In October 2016, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine held a meeting to discuss the manufacturing, social, and economic implications of the Fourth Industrial Revolution [2]. One area with implications for manufacturing is artificial intelligence (AI), which refers to the creation of intelligent machines that function and react to humans [3]. IBM developed Watson for oncology (WFO), an AI cognitive computing system that can suggest proper chemotherapy regimens for specific cancer patients. Watson for oncology (WFO) is a cognitive computing system providing decision support. We evaluated the concordance rates between the treatment options determined by WFO and those determined by a multidisciplinary team (MDT)
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