A comparative study of Watson for Oncology and tumor boards in breast cancer treatment

• Published in: Korean journal of clinical oncology Vol. 15; no. 1; pp. 3 - 6
• Main Authors: Kim, Dohoon, Kim, Yun Young, Lee, Joon-Hyop, Chung, Yoo Seung, Choi, Sangtae, Kang, Jin Mo, Park, Heung Kyu, Chun, Yong Soon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 대한종양외과학회 01.06.2019; Korean Society of Surgical Oncology
• Subjects: breast neoplasms; concordance; treatment option; tumor board; watson for oncology; 일반외과학; Breast neoplasms; Watson for Oncology; Concordance; Tumor board; Treatment option
• ISSN: 1738-8082; 2288-4084
• DOI: 10.14216/kjco.19002

Purpose Watson for Oncology (WFO) is a computing system for considering treatment option with patients. The aim of this study is to determine the concordance rate of WFO and tumor board in treatment options of breast cancer. Methods One hundred and seventy breast cancer patients who were treated at Gachon University Gil Medical Center (GMC) from December 2016 to March 2018 were investigated. “Concordance” is defined that treatment provided by GMC tumor board and WFO-provided treatments (Recommend or For Consideration) were coincide. “Discordance” is defined that treatment provided by GMC tumor board and WFO-provided treatments (Not Recommended or Not Available) were coincide. Results In chemotherapy, of the total 170 patients, 23 patients were excluded, and the concordance rate was compared in 147 patients. Concordance rate was 93% (136/147). In the 11 patients who were discordant, seven patients complied with the treatment proposed by GMC tumor board due to insurance problems and age, and two patients did not follow the treatment proposed by WFO due to pregnancy and patient’s choice, and one patient chose a treatment determined by WFO, last one patient was not treated with chemotherapy because it was not considered to be clinically necessary. In radiotherapy, the overall agreement rate was as high as 99% (147/148). Conclusion Through this study, we found that many of the treatment proposals provided by WFO are highly reliable. Although the overall agreement is high in the radiotherapy regimen, the indication for radiotherapy by WFO is more aggressive and hypofractionated high dose intensity radiotherapy is growing trend by WFO.