Computers learn to pinpoint deadly tumours

Health reporter,London(wp/es):

Patients with an increasingly deadly cancer could receive quicker and more effective treatment after a “potentially game-changing” breakthrough using computers to pinpoint the location of tumours.

Experts at University College London Hospitals and Google’sartificial intelligence firm DeepMind Health have taught the machines to analyse CT scans of head and neck cancers.

Early results suggest the computers can read the scans as accurately as human radiographers and oncologists — but in a fraction of the time.

This could allow UCLH — a specialist cancer centre for north and east London and Essex — to treat more patients.

It might also mean patients could receive “adaptive” radiotherapy, where the treatment is repeatedly retargeted as the tumour changes shape or shrinks.

There are over 12,000 diagnoses of head and neck cancers a year in the UK, and 4,000 deaths. 

It is twice as common in men than women and can be hard to treat as tumours may be close to the eyes or other organs. Mortality rates have risen 14 per cent in the past decade.

Today’s breakthrough is expected to lead to the launch of clinical trials by the end of the year.

It follows a DeepMind success at Moorfields Eye Hospital, where computers were found to be as effective as humans at analysing scans for signs of eye disease.

Kevin Sullivan, UCLH’s head of cancer services, said: “It is very early days but the findings so far are really exciting. Having an automated system which could reduce part of radiotherapy planning from hours to minutes is potentially game-changing.

“It could enable us to treat patients more quickly and effectively, with the ultimate goal of improving the outlook for people with head and neck cancer.”

It normally takes clinicians up to four hours to mark up cancerous and healthy tissue on CT scans before radiotherapy, a process called “segmentation”.

Scans can be taken seven to 14 days before treatment, leaving a chance they could be out of date, resulting in the therapy not being as precise as possible.

Researchers used more than 800 scans from 500 UCLH patients to create an algorithm that “directs” the computer’s hunt for cancer. The system was double-checked against scans from the US.

Mr Sullivan said: “This will not replace clinicians. We will need radiographers and doctors to review results of the al-gorithm, and physicists will continue to develop radiotherapy treatment plans. But the algorithm will save time.”

Moped gang seals off entire road to launch £100,000 raid on jewellers in Wimbledon Village

Crime reporter,London(wp/es):

A moped gang armed with knives  and acid set up a roadblock in one of London’s most upmarket shopping streets to mount a £100,000 ramraid on an exclusive jewellers.

Terrified staff locked themselves in a storeroom as the gang of four, on two motorcycles, crashed through the front of Michael Platt in the heart of Wimbledon Village.

The robbers, clad in black with black helmets, threatened bystanders with a knife and spray bottles believed to contain acid. They dragged a “Road Closed” sign left behind from works and left it in the middle of Church Road. 

Passers-by leapt into shops and cafes for safety as the raid, which lasted just minutes, unfolded at about 12.45pm yesterday. The gang fled with bags full of bespoke items from the business, which is owned by Wayne and Elayne Myers. Mr Myers said: “They grabbed the sign and put it in the road to divert traffic away. Then they drove straight into the door and flattened it. The staff were terrified.

“While they were raiding the shop the guys on the other bike were stopping traffic on the road. As one woman tried to video them he threatened to spray what we think was acid at her. They were also waving a knife. This was very violent, but no one was injured.”

Today, just 24 hours after the raid, he defiantly reopened the store, saying: “It’s business as usual, we will not let these thugs beat us.

 “We will not cower against these brazen people who need to be stopped. We are a small independent business and they are one-off items but we will not be beaten.” Among the jewellery stolen was an 18 carat platinum ring, pendants and bracelets.

Mrs Myers said: “These people are the slime of society. But they will not get the better of us. It’s hard enough for small businesses without this. But we will show our grit and carry on. These people need to be caught.”

The couple said that one of the mopeds used in the raid had been found dumped only a couple of miles away on the A3.

Another witness said: “They were shouting and stopping the traffic. They had a spray they were using as a weapon.We thought it was acid.

“A lot of people ran into a cafe. It  was bizarre that this was happening in leafy Wimbledon in the middle of the day.”

Scotland Yard appealed for witnesses to the raid to come forward. There have been no arrests.