Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Xingmai Tech Unveil AI-Powered System for Predicting Molecular Pathology in Breast Cancer at 2019 World Artificial Intelligence Conference

VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) reports from the scene: From August 29 to 31, the 2019 World Artificial Intelligence Conference, hailed as the “Olympics of the AI industry,” was held in Shanghai. The event is expected to bring together more than 40,000 attendees from over 40 countries worldwide, with total exhibition visits surpassing 200,000. Top global AI companies converged at the conference to exchange insights and share developments on hot topics such as autonomous driving, medical AI, and 5G technology.

In April 2019, Shanghai officially unveiled its first batch of pilot application scenarios for artificial intelligence. Twelve specific scenarios were selected, covering areas such as schools, hospitals, communities, industrial parks, transportation, government services, and finance, marking the city’s nationwide lead in the deep application of AI. Among them was Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center.

Shanghai’s First “AI Big Data Laboratory” for Healthcare Established at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center. Leveraging artificial intelligence and big data technologies, the laboratory has enabled concrete applications across ten scenarios, including the development of clinical research platforms and early cancer screening for high-risk populations. At this Artificial Intelligence Conference, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, as a leading hub for AI-plus-healthcare applications, showcased a series of innovative AI products.

As Fosun’s first self-incubated artificial intelligence enterprise, FUSUN AITROX joined hands with Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center to showcase its AI-powered breast cancer screening product. The unveiled AI microscope diagnostic system for breast cancer not only automates digital pathology imaging but also intelligently predicts and analyzes tumor regions, pinpointing the precise locations of cancerous cells for physicians. This technology enhances diagnostic efficiency, reduces subjective variability among clinicians with differing levels of experience, and improves the precision of patient diagnosis and treatment, thereby delivering a more comprehensive healthcare experience.

Breast cancer is currently the most prevalent cancer among women in China. As a leading institution representing the pinnacle of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment technologies in the country, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center manages nearly 50% of newly diagnosed cases in Shanghai each year.

Early diagnosis and treatment are key to breast cancer management. Currently, only 20% to 25% of early-stage breast cancer cases among Chinese women are detected at Stage I, with a five-year survival rate of approximately 80%.

The rate of breast-conserving surgery for early-stage breast cancer is relatively high, with favorable treatment outcomes; over 90% of patients can achieve long-term cure. In the Maternal and Child Health Indicators of the Healthy China Action (2019–2030) issued by the National Health Commission in 2019, it was planned that by 2020 and 2030, the screening coverage rates for cervical cancer and breast cancer among age-eligible women in rural areas would reach at least 80% and 90%, respectively. Currently, these targets remain far from being met.

The National Health Commission has clarified that it will use AI and other means to increase the screening coverage rate for “two cancers” (breast cancer and cervical cancer) by 27% within three years.

Notably, in the field of AI-based breast cancer screening, the cutting-edge research and development project jointly undertaken by Shanghai Aitrox Technology Co., Ltd. and Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center not only provides recommendations for molecular pathological diagnosis but also predicts molecular pathological diagnostic outcomes through histopathological analysis, thereby enhancing diagnostic accuracy and achieving optimal therapeutic efficacy.

In traditional approaches, patients diagnosed with breast cancer require molecular diagnostics, which provide a critical basis for prognosis assessment and the selection of chemotherapy and endocrine therapy regimens. However, molecular diagnostics are currently costly. A collaborative research project between Shanghai Aitrox Technology Co., Ltd. and Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center has effectively addressed this issue by offering patients a rapid and convenient solution, with preliminary progress already achieved.

In August this year, Aitrox Technology also claimed the top spot globally in the SPIE Breast Cancer Pathology Challenge. Looking ahead, Aitrox Technology is poised to deliver even more breakthroughs in breast cancer screening.

In addition to breast cancer screening, VCBeat has learned that Aitrox Technology’s AI solutions now cover organs “from head to toe,” with a portfolio of more than 40 AI disease models. These models have been maturely applied in the management of diseases such as lung cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, diabetes, pulmonary tuberculosis, and arthritis.

AI-powered imaging screening and the AI ROSE diagnostic system were also showcased in Fosun’s “Future Clinic.”

“Future Clinic” is jointly established by Fosun-affiliated enterprises, including FUSUN AITROX, Dashu Yida, Xingyitong, and Intuitive Fosun. By leveraging a four-pronged technological empowerment strategy—comprising intelligent portable devices, AI-assisted diagnostic technology, big data-driven clinical pathways, and a family doctor health management system—it enables family doctors to deliver comprehensive services on an AI data platform. These services cover the entire care continuum, including health records, resident physical examinations, intelligent screening, AI physician assistants, two-way referrals, and chronic disease management.

Leveraging Fosun’s robust industrial resources and Aitrox’s proprietary technological strengths, Aitrox Technology enables the deployment of AI products at the grassroots level, enhances diagnostic and treatment efficiency across the entire workflow in large hospitals, and resolves the challenges associated with AI implementation.

It is reported that Aitrox Technology has partnered with over 200 medical institutions across more than 20 provinces and municipalities in China, processing over 20,000 imaging cases daily, with an AI-assisted product adoption rate exceeding 90%. In the AI+healthcare sector, Aitrox Technology has developed three major solutions built on its robust AI technology foundation.

AITROX SharpVision offers multimodal AI-powered diagnostic solutions for medical imaging, empowering intelligent screening and enhancing the cost-effectiveness of public health services. AITROX JingLing, an all-in-one AI microscope system, enables tertiary hospitals to deliver precision diagnosis and treatment by supporting tumor typing and staging, as well as intraoperative biopsies during bronchoscopy. Its cloud imaging services connect AI-driven diagnostic applications across multiple diseases and modalities, providing an economical and convenient platform for the development of regional medical consortia. By integrating these three core solutions and leveraging Fosun’s advantageous resources, AITROX’s AI products achieve multi-scenario application and full-cycle management, thereby distinguishing themselves from homogeneous medical AI offerings in the market.