On 15 October 2025, the PHIRE project co-organised the joint webinar “Approaches to Early Cancer Diagnosis and the Impact of Artificial Intelligence in Oncology” together with other EU-funded initiatives: PAINCAIM and PANCAID. The webinar aimed to demonstrate different approaches to improving early diagnosis through biotechnology and AI in pancreatic and bladder cancer.
The webinar was moderated by Federica Zanca, EIC Programme Manager for Medical Imaging and AI in Healthcare for the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency at EISMEA.
The event kicked off with a presentation by Dr. Massimo Alfano from the San Raffaele Hospital, coordinator of the PHIRE project. Dr. Alfano outlined the project’s mission to enhance the detection and treatment of bladder cancer through an innovative method that employs gold nanoparticles. These nanoparticles serve a dual purpose, functioning both as contrast agents for imaging and as therapeutic tools to target and treat cancer cells more effectively. These nanosystems enable photoacoustic imaging to visualise tumours smaller than 1 mm and induce targeted thermal ablation to destroy residual cancer cells resistant to traditional chemotherapy. This dual diagnostic–therapeutic technique aims to significantly reduce relapse and treatment costs, improving patients’ quality of life.
Dr. John Hermans (Radboud University Medical Center – Nijmegen), representing the PANCAIM project, presented how the initiative integrates clinical, imaging, pathology, and multi-omics data to create a unified, AI-powered platform for the diagnosis and prognosis of pancreatic cancer. The consortium has developed a harmonised data repository to support AI model development across European hospitals, addressing challenges such as data diversity and interoperability. One highlight was the implementation of an AI model that assists radiologists in identifying pancreatic tumours during multidisciplinary team meetings, demonstrating real-world integration of AI into clinical workflows.
Dr. Hermans underscored that AI’s greatest contribution lies not in replacing clinicians but in combining multimodal data and detecting subtle patterns that humans may overlook.
Representing the PANCAID project, Dr. Núria Malats from the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) presented efforts to develop a minimally invasive blood test for the early, asymptomatic detection of pancreatic cancer. By integrating various biomarkers, such as circulating tumour DNA, exosomes (a nano-sized messenger containing proteins, lipids, and genetic materia), and metabolites (small molecules produced or consumed in metabolism), through AI-driven multimarker modelling, the project seeks to build a reliable screening tool for high-risk individuals. Dr. Malats noted that combining liquid biopsy data with imaging could significantly improve diagnostic accuracy while keeping the process non-invasive and patient-friendly.
Panel Discussion
The webinar carried on with a panel discussion that reflected on the major opportunities and challenges shaping the future of cancer diagnosis and care through the two cases of pancreas and bladder cancers.
A key issue identified was data scarcity and heterogeneity, particularly for early-stage cancers, where limited cases make it difficult to train reliable AI models. The panelists discussed the growing role of synthetic data generation and international data-sharing initiatives to expand datasets and improve model accuracy.
Another critical topic was the need for clear regulatory guidance and certification pathways for AI-based medical technologies to ensure safety, transparency, and trust in clinical practice. The speakers also highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, uniting clinicians, data scientists, and industry partners, to translate innovative research into real-world healthcare solutions.
All three experts agreed that AI is a powerful enabler of earlier and more precise cancer detection. From enhancing imaging resolution to optimising treatment decisions and uncovering molecular signatures in blood, AI is accelerating the shift toward personalised and preventive oncology.
Concluding the discussion, moderator Federica Zanca summarised a shared vision: with innovation, cross-sector collaboration, and responsible AI adoption, Europe is well positioned to lead the transformation of cancer care, moving from late-stage intervention to early, life-saving detection.
