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COVID-19 has complicated oncology trials and oncology care in general, slowing down the success seen against cancer.
The cancer death rate fell 29% between 1991 and 2017, according to the American Cancer Society. Novel treatments such as immunotherapy helped, but the coronavirus pandemic has created challenges.
Researchers have had to adapt and innovate, with AI playing an important role.
COVID-19’s disproportionate impact on oncology“Cancer patients have been disproportionately negatively affected by COVID-19,” said Jeff Elton, CEO of ConcertAI, an AI company specializing in oncology. Immunocompromised patients with hematological malignancies such as multiple myeloma, in particular, face outsized risks from COVID-19 infection.
To reduce the risk for patients, many oncology clinics in 2019 limited capacity while making significant treatment chang…