University Hospitals Cleveland launches AI lung cancer trial

USA –University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center (UH) has initiated a clinical trial in collaboration with Qure.ai to evaluate the effectiveness of artificial intelligence (AI) in detecting early-stage lung cancer through chest X-rays.

The trial focuses on the qXR-LN, an FDA-cleared AI tool developed by Qure.ai, designed to identify potential lung nodules that may be missed during standard radiologist reviews. ​

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Despite recommendations for low-dose CT (LDCT) scans for high-risk individuals, such as smokers and former smokers, screening rates are low, with only about 16% of eligible patients undergoing CT-based lung screening.

Dr. Amit Gupta, Division Chief of Cardiothoracic Imaging at UH, emphasizes the potential of AI to enhance early detection by identifying nodules incidentally found during routine chest X-rays taken for other medical reasons. ​

The qXR-LN AI tool acts as a ‘second set of eyes,’ flagging suspicious lung nodules ranging from 6 to 30 millimeters in size.

These flagged cases are then compared to radiologist interpretations to assess the AI’s accuracy and potential in improving early-stage lung cancer detection.

The trial will also evaluate the impact of AI on follow-up imaging, biopsy rates, and the overall rate of early lung cancer diagnoses. ​

Dr. Gupta notes, “AI serves as an additional set of eyes for radiologists, enhancing detection by flagging lung nodules that may require further evaluation.

“The hope is that this clinical trial will not only advance early detection but also drive meaningful transformation in lung cancer surveillance.”​

Samir Shah, Chief Medical Officer at Qure.ai, adds, “Chest X-ray AI presents a valuable opportunity to cast a wider net, to identify suspected malignant pulmonary nodules. This can boost the fight against lung cancer and improve outcomes for patients.”​

This initiative is part of UH’s broader commitment to integrating AI into healthcare to improve clinical outcomes.

The Department of Radiology at UH has been recognized as an American College of Radiology (ACR) Recognized Center for Healthcare-AI (ARCH-AI), highlighting its leadership in adopting best practices for AI technologies in radiology. ​