Although cancer still accounts for a quarter of deaths in Britain, the rise of agentic artificial intelligence is accelerating progress in AI cancer treatment and the search for effective cures.
AI Cancer Treatment: Harnessing Technology to Discover Breakthrough Cures
Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death in England, accounting for just over a quarter of all fatalities each year. However, the long-term trend shows encouraging progress. According to Cancer Research UK, the cancer mortality rate has dropped by 22% over the past five decades, from 328 deaths per 100,000 people in 1973 to around 252 per 100,000 in 2023.
Experts highlight this as a positive step forward. As Alex Adjei, head of the Cleveland Clinic’s Cancer Institute, explained to Healthcare Today: “The fight against cancer is a story of real, measurable progress.”
This progress is being driven by government initiatives and private sector innovation, with AI cancer treatment and other advanced technologies at the core. Under the government’s new 10-Year Health Plan, women in England who have missed essential health checks will now receive home-testing kits for cervical screening. Meanwhile, NHS patients are set to become the first in Europe to access a non-invasive ultrasound-based liver cancer treatment that destroys tumors without surgery. Additionally, NICE has recently approved a new therapy for advanced urothelial cancer, which nearly doubles survival rates compared to standard treatments.
In the private sector, advancements are equally striking. The Royal Marsden Private Care recently became the first in the UK to treat multiple myeloma patients with CAR-T cell therapy outside of trials. Nuffield Health has also begun rolling out the latest breast cancer diagnostics, including advanced mammography, in hospitals across the country. Furthermore, Cleveland Clinic London has announced plans to open an 81,000-square-foot cancer centre to expand its services and integrate more cutting-edge solutions, including AI-powered cancer treatment innovations.
How AI is Changing Cancer Research
Artificial intelligence (AI) has shifted from science fiction to everyday medical reality. Once seen with skepticism, it is now regulated, recommended by public healthcare bodies, and already transforming NHS practices.
Neil Daly, CEO and founder of Skin Analytics, recently noted: “These tools are no longer experimental. They are deployed in real healthcare settings and are changing lives.”
One major challenge, however, has been communication. Many people remain unaware of how this technology is directly shaping the future of AI cancer treatment.
In an upcoming Healthcare Today interview, Garry Nolan, cancer specialist and professor of pathology at Stanford University, explained why AI holds such extraordinary promise. “No single human can manage the millions of studies, data points, and biological pathways across all cancer types,” he said.
Large language models now make this possible, scanning vast research libraries and surfacing valuable insights that might otherwise remain hidden. More advanced forms, such as agentic AI—capable of autonomous decision-making and goal-oriented actions—take this a step further by delivering direct, actionable responses to clinicians.
While Nolan is optimistic, he stresses the importance of balance: “AI will help us solve cancer and much more. But humans must remain in the loop to ask the right questions and interpret the answers. That partnership is where the real power lies.
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