Children with a cancer predisposition syndrome called neurofibromatosis are benefiting from artificial intelligence in a collaboration between Cedars-Sinai Cancer and the Biomedical Imaging Research Institute at Cedars-Sinai. 

A pilot study is using MRI scans of pediatric patients to screen for markers that predict cancerous tumors as well as benign tumors capable of malignant transformation. When combined with machine-learning algorithms informed by both retrospective and prospective scans, investigators believe the technique could revolutionize proactive management and preventive interventions for cancer predisposition syndromes.

"Not all cancer predisposition syndromes can easily obtain insurance authorization for whole-body MRI scans. This study provides a screening MRI for patients, interpreted by a radiologist, that can be followed up with standard clinical imaging if any masses are found," says Nicole Baca, MD, the pediatric hematologist/oncologist who led the project.

To learn more about enrolling a patient in this study, visit our clinical trials website.