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Copyright ©The Author(s) 2021. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
Artif Intell Cancer. Dec 29, 2021; 2(6): 79-89
Published online Dec 29, 2021. doi: 10.35713/aic.v2.i6.79
Artificial intelligence in colorectal cancer management
Pasquale Cianci, Enrico Restini
Pasquale Cianci, Enrico Restini, Department of Surgery and Traumatology, ASL BAT, Lorenzo Bonomo Hospital, Andria 76123, Puglia, Italy
Author contributions: Cianci P conceptualized and designed the review, and acquired and interpreted the data; Restini E carried out critical reviews and approved the final version of the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest to disclose.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Pasquale Cianci, FACS, MD, PhD, Lecturer, Surgeon, Department of Surgery and Traumatology, ASL BAT, Lorenzo Bonomo Hospital, Luigi Pinto Rd 1, Andria 76123, Puglia, Italy. ciancidoc1@virgilio.it
Received: December 9, 2021
Peer-review started: December 9, 2021
First decision: December 13, 2021
Revised: December 22, 2021
Accepted: December 28, 2021
Article in press: December 28, 2021
Published online: December 29, 2021
Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a new branch of computer science involving many disciplines and technologies. Since its application in the medical field, it has been constantly studied and developed. AI includes machine learning and neural networks to create new technologies or to improve existing ones. Various AI supporting systems are available for a personalized and novel strategy for the management of colorectal cancer (CRC). This mini-review aims to summarize the progress of research and possible clinical applications of AI in the investigation, early diagnosis, treatment, and management of CRC, to offer elements of knowledge as a starting point for new studies and future applications.

Keywords: Artificial intelligence, Oncology, Colorectal cancer, Digestive surgery, Computer-assisted diagnosis

Core Tip: Many authors have summarized artificial intelligence applications in the field of cancer. This mini-review intends to open a window on the attempts being made on the application of artificial intelligence in the scientific and clinical research of colorectal cancer by summarizing the most evident results. Our aim is not to draw definitive conclusions but to stimulate the interest of researchers in the application of these new technologies, which seem to be able to offer valuable help in the near future.