Singaporean scientists from the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR) Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology and Singapore General Hospital have unveiled an artificial intelligence-powered scoring system, TIMES, that predicts the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer. Featured on the cover of the scientific journal Nature, the TIMES score analyses the spatial distribution of immune cells and specific genes within liver tumour tissues, achieving an 82% accuracy rate in predicting recurrence.
The TIMES score identifies patients at risk of recurrence months earlier than current methods, allowing for timely and targeted interventions. “In Singapore, up to 70% of liver cancer patients experience recurrence within five years,” said Dr Joe Yeong, principal investigator at ASTAR IMCB. “TIMES offers a significant advancement in predicting these outcomes, enabling clinicians to intervene at the earliest possible stage.”
The system was validated using samples from 231 patients across five hospitals. It is now accessible through a free web portal for research purposes, with plans to integrate it into clinical workflows. Further validation studies are planned at Singapore General Hospital and the National Cancer Centre Singapore later this year. Discussions with diagnostic partners are also underway to develop TIMES into a clinically approved diagnostic test kit.
The development of the TIMES score marks a significant step forward in liver cancer treatment, potentially improving patient care and survival outcomes.
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