AI and Cancer Research ── Endometrial ── 2026-11-09
Endometrial cancer: treatment, trials and AI
- Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Preoperative identification of FIGO 2023 stage I endometrial cancer (EC) is important for treatment planning. We aimed to develop and validate a deep-learning radiomics nomogram (DLRN) based on multiparametric MRI to distinguish stage I EC from stage II-IV disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study retrospectively enrolled patients from three centers. Patients from Centers 1 and 2 were randomly split into a training set (n = 616), and an internal test set (n = 158), and Center 3 served as an external test set (n = 232). The DLRN integrated deep-learning features, intratumoral and peritumoral radiomics features, and clinical characteristics. The DLRN was compared with clinical, radiomics, and deep-learning models. Discrimination was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), with AUCs compared using DeLong's test. RESULTS: A total of 1006 patients (mean age, 56.5 ± 9.7 years) were analyzed. In the internal test set, the DLRN achieved an AUC of 0.852, higher than the clinical (0.673; p = 0.001), original radiomics (0.765; p = 0.030), and combined radiomics (0.793; p = 0.050) models. In the external test set, the DLRN remained robust (AUC = 0.829) and outperformed the clinical, original radiomics, and combined radiomics models (AUC = 0.680, 0.681, and 0.743; all p < 0.005). With DLRN assistance, radiologists showed improved diagnostic performance. CONCLUSION: The MRI-based DLRN showed robust discrimination between FIGO 2023 stage I and stage II-IV EC across test sets, supporting its potential for preoperative risk stratification and decision support. KEY POINTS: Question The introduction of the FIGO 2023 staging system has made the differentiation between stages more challenging, highlighting the need for better tools.
Findings: A new MRI-based deep-learning radiomics nomogram (DLRN) accurately identifies high-risk patients, significantly outperforming traditional and individual clinical prediction methods. Critical relevance statement This tool helps doctors make better preoperative treatment plans, potentially improving patient outcomes in endometrial cancer.
Journal IF-equivalent: 6.5 (OpenAlex 2-year mean citedness, value as of 2026-11-03, retrieved 2026-11-05; not the official Clarivate IF)Reference: Chu X, Gao L, Wang X, Quan T, Ding Y, Chen Y, et al. MRI-based deep-learning radiomics nomogram for differentiating FIGO 2023 stage I from stage II–IV endometrial cancer: a multicenter study. Insights Imaging. 2026 Nov 6;17(1):284. doi:10.1186/s13244-026-02428-9.Checked: Abstract only