Artificial intelligence utilization in cancer screening program across ASEAN: a scoping review

Abstract

Background: Cancer remains a significant health challenge in the ASEAN region, highlighting the need for effective screening programs. However, approaches, target demographics, and intervals vary across ASEAN member states, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of these variations to assess program effectiveness. Additionally, while artificial intelligence (AI) holds promise as a tool for cancer screening, its utilization in the ASEAN region is unexplored.

Purpose: This study aims to identify and evaluate different cancer screening programs across ASEAN, with a focus on assessing the integration and impact of AI in these programs.

Methods: A scoping review was conducted using PRISMA-ScR guidelines to provide a comprehensive overview of cancer screening programs and AI usage across ASEAN. Data were collected from government health ministries, official guidelines, literature databases, and relevant documents. The use of AI in cancer screening reviews involved searches through PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar with the inclusion criteria of only included studies that utilized data from the ASEAN region from January 2019 to May 2024.

Results: The findings reveal diverse cancer screening approaches in ASEAN. Countries like Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Brunei, Philippines, Indonesia and Timor-Leste primarily adopt opportunistic screening, while Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand focus on organized programs. Cervical cancer screening is widespread, using both opportunistic and organized methods. Fourteen studies were included in the scoping review, covering breast (5 studies), cervical (2 studies), colon (4 studies), hepatic (1 study), lung (1 study), and oral (1 study) cancers. Studies revealed that different stages of AI integration for cancer screening: prospective clinical evaluation (50%), silent trial (36%) and exploratory model development (14%), with promising results in enhancing cancer screening accuracy and efficiency.

Conclusion: Cancer screening programs in the ASEAN region require more organized approaches targeting appropriate age groups at regular intervals to meet the WHO's 2030 screening targets. Efforts to integrate AI in Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia show promise in optimizing screening processes, reducing costs, and improving early detection. AI technology integration enhances cancer identification accuracy during screening, improving early detection and cancer management across the ASEAN region.

Keywords: ASEAN; Artificial intelligence; Cancer screening.

Fig. 1

Flow chart for study selection process

Fig. 2

Distribution of the reviewed studies focusing on the utilization of AI technology in the ASEAN region until May 2024