AI Is Getting Smarter About Breast Cancer Treatment

A new study in JCO Clinical Cancer Informatics has shown that artificial intelligence — specifically a large language model — can accurately recommend adjuvant treatment plans for patients with early-stage breast cancer. In many cases, its suggestions aligned with the decisions that seasoned oncologists would make. That’s more than impressive. It’s a sign that AI is starting to earn a seat at the clinical decision-making table.

Adjuvant treatment refers to additional therapy after surgery — like chemotherapy, radiation or endocrine therapy — meant to reduce the risk of recurrence. Choosing the right plan is complex. It requires evaluating tumor characteristics, hormone receptor status, lymph node involvement, patient age and more. Even among experts, opinions can vary. That’s where AI can be useful — not to replace clinicians, but to reinforce their thinking and flag the most appropriate guidelines in real time.

The study asked the AI to process hypothetical patient scenarios and offer treatment recommendations. The model consistently applied evidence-based logic, weighing clinical factors the same way an oncologist would. It wasn’t guessing. It was reasoning.

And this isn’t the only space where AI is making moves. A separate trial, fittingly named CINDERELLA, is exploring how machine learning can support surgical decision-making by aligning clinical recommendations with patient preferences. It recognizes that cancer treatment isn’t just about eliminating disease — it’s about preserving dignity, autonomy and long-term quality of life.

The real significance here is access. Not every patient sees a top-tier cancer specialist. Many rely on general oncologists or community hospitals with limited bandwidth. AI could democratize care by making high-quality clinical logic available anywhere. It’s not perfect. But neither is the current system. If anything, AI offers a new kind of second opinion — one that doesn’t get tired or overlook critical details.

This research marks a shift. AI isn’t just scanning images or summarizing notes. It’s starting to engage in clinical reasoning. And if it keeps getting better, it could become one of the most valuable tools in modern oncology.