BioSpectrum Asia Magazine - BioSpectrum Asia Feb 2026

In this issue

Cancer Diagnosis, Accelerated by AI Cancer remains a leading cause of death worldwide, with Asia bearing a disproportionate burden. In 2020, the region accounted for nearly half of global cancer cases and over 58 per cent of cancer-related deaths. Lung, breast, and colorectal cancers were the most commonly diagnosed. Artificial intelligence (AI) has shown particular promise in early detection, where timely diagnosis can significantly improve outcomes. Today, AI supports cancer diagnosis across medical imaging, digital pathology, and genomic analysis, helping clinicians review scans, analyse tissue samples, and interpret complex data more efficiently. Studies show that AI can detect suspicious findings earlier than routine clinical review in some cases. In China, systems such as Alibaba’s DAMO GRAPE and Huawei’s RuiPath have demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy and are already deployed in clinical settings. Beyond detection, machine-learning models are increasingly used to predict treatment effectiveness and patient outcomes. As World Cancer Day is observed on February 4, attention is turning to whether the rapid deployment of AI tools across the Asia-Pacific region reflects genuine clinical impact or continued technological hype.