New Case Series presented at World Conference of
Lung Cancer 2025
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A new clinical case
study, presented today by Qure.ai and Hacettepe
University, Turkey, at the IASLC World Conference on Lung Cancer 2025 in
Barcelona, shows that Artificial Intelligence (AI) can detect potentially
malignant pulmonary nodules on routine chest X-rays (CXRs), even when the
imaging was ordered for unrelated, non-respiratory conditions.
This adds to the growing
body of evidence that AI can act as a disruptor in early lung cancer detection
strategies. It can provide an early warning system in countries without formal
lung cancer screening programs or complement CT-based screening programs by
going beyond smoker/ex-smoker cohorts.
By expanding and
improving the number of early-detected lung cancer patients, survival rates
will increase through early surgical or pharmaceutical interventions.
“By finding high-risk
nodules earlier and diagnose
lung cancer at early stages, AI not only improves, but also accelerates
diagnosis and treatment,” said Dr. Deniz Koksal at Hacettepe University in Ankara, Turkey. This
enables early surgical interventions while reducing the need for more
expensive treatments such as targeted therapies and immunotherapies.”
The case series, ‘Chest X-Ray Analysis
with Artificial Intelligence Software Aids in the Early Diagnosis of Lung
Cancer’, conducted at Hacettepe University in Ankara, Turkey, utilised
data from the CREATE study—a coordinated, five-country research initiative. The
three highlighted cases showed how AI-flagged suspicious nodules in patients
with no prior suspicion of lung cancer. They had entered the chest X-ray
imaging pathway via the Emergency Room with fever; as a routine radiology CXR
prior to treatment for ulcerative colitis; and CXR as part of a routine smoking
cessation program. The AI-powered finding enabled timely referral for CT
imaging confirmation and biopsy, confirming early-stage lung cancer in all
cases. Each patient underwent curative surgical intervention with favourable
outcomes.
“This new evidence
presented at the World Conference of Lung Cancer has the potential to position
every chest X-ray as a chance to save a life,” states Prashant Warier,
Founder and CEO of Qure.ai. “AI can help to expand the early lung cancer
detection funnel by identifying high-risk pulmonary nodules that would
otherwise go unnoticed until it’s too late.”
Key case study insights:
- Expanding the diagnostic funnel: AI-driven detection on non-screening X-rays identifies patients who would otherwise fall outside current screening criteria such as age or smoking history.
- Global market potential: In countries lacking structured lung cancer screening programs, AI-enhanced X-rays could create large, untapped patient populations eligible for therapeutic intervention.
- Supporting precision medicine: Earlier identification of malignant nodules provides more opportunities for genomic testing and timely initiation of advanced therapies.
- Health system alignment: Acting as a safety net in high-volume or resource-limited settings, AI helps reduce diagnostic delays — aligning with payer and public health goals.
