Prospective study of an AI enabled online intervention to increase delivery of guideline compliant cancer care, on the ground.

Abstract

2011 Background: Despite survival benefits of guideline compliant cancer care, under treatment and over treatment are prevalent. Navya is an AI enabled online intervention that matches a patient’s medical record with NCCN and NCG guidelines (National Cancer Grid, India) and layers live multidisciplinary expert review to recommend actionable treatment plans. It was developed to standardize care and mitigate morbidity and mortality, by delivering on-t ime, guideline based expert treatment plans. Methods: From July 2019 to January 2020, all patients who received a Navya treatment plan based on guidelines and live expert review were included. Intended treatment plans were prospectively collected from the patient. Compliance of intended plans with NCCN (including Resource Stratified Framework) or NCG was measured. Noncompliant intended plans were categorized as overtreatment or undertreatment. After delivery of Navya plan, prospective phone follow up assessed whether noncompliant intended plans were changed to guideline compliant care. Results: Of 1707 consecutive patients who received a Navya plan, 1549 intended plans were available. Patients were diverse with respect to geographic, socioeconomic, and primary tumor distribution: West of India: 28%, North: 26%, East: 21%, South: 15%, Central: 7%, International: 3%; 35% of patients with income < $300/month; GI: 23%, Breast: 14%, Head & Neck: 11%, Thoracic: 10%. Of the 1549 intended plans, 441 (28.47% (95% CI ± 0.26%)) were not compliant with NCCN or NCG. Undertreatment was 35%, overtreatment 26%, incomplete staging workup 28% and 11% could not be categorized. Of 441 patients with noncompliant intended plans, 80.19% (± 0.97%) shared the Navya plan with their treating oncologists and 50.40% (± 0.88%) changed their intended plan to receive the Navya treatment plan. Intervention with Navya increased on-the -ground guideline compliance by ~15% (from 71.53% ±0.42% to 85.87% ± 1.73%). Conclusions: Guideline compliant care ensures best achievable clinical outcomes with existing therapies. A technological earthshot that significantly increases adoption of guideline based care is the first step towards cancer moonshots.