Scientists at Lawson Research Institute and London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute are pioneering a fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) approach to improve chemotherapy response in advanced pancreatic cancer. The Phase I trial will use LND101 capsules, containing gut microbes from healthy donors, to modify tumor microbiomes and enhance immune function. Previous studies on melanoma, lung, and renal cancer suggest this treatment could improve survival rates, marking a potential breakthrough in cancer therapy.
Author: Abhay Panchal
Sanford Health implemented an AI-driven risk model in its EHR to enhance colorectal cancer screening for 100,000 newly eligible patients following the USPSTF recommendation to begin screenings at age 45. The AI tool analyzes 85 nontraditional risk factors, increasing cancer detection rates fivefold compared to traditional models. It also prioritizes high-risk patients for colonoscopies and integrates at-home stool DNA tests to optimize screening backlogs. The next phase will expand the AI tool across all primary care clinics, with broader applications in early disease detection beyond colorectal cancer.
A meta-analysis of five studies (10,833 patients) found that GLP-1 receptor agonist users were twice as likely to have inadequate bowel preparation for colonoscopy (10.6% vs. 4.6%; OR 2.10, P = 0.0003) and had lower Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS) scores. Researchers suggest gastrointestinal motility effects may contribute to poor prep adherence. The findings highlight the need for enhanced bowel prep strategies for these patients.
A nationwide study from Japan found that the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) varies among subgroups of steatotic liver disease (SLD), with the highest risk in patients with alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) (1.73x higher), followed by MetALD (1.36x) and MASLD (1.28x). The study analyzed data from 6.38 million individuals and emphasizes the need for targeted CRC screening in high-risk SLD patients. Researchers suggest alcohol-related toxic metabolites, oxidative stress, and metabolic dysfunction contribute to these risk variations.
Colorectal cancer screenings are booming, a trend driven largely by revised guidelines recommending screenings begin at age 45, as well as the lingering backlog of elective endoscopy cases from the COVID-19 pandemic. Neal Kaushal, MD, a gastroenterologist from Sonora, Calif., joined Becker’s to discuss the strategies that are helping and hurting ASCs amid the growing CRC demand.
A panel at the Value-Based Payment Summit discussed the challenges of healthcare consolidation and strategies to support independent practices through value-based care models. Experts highlighted payment disparities, anti-competitive hospital practices, and administrative burdens as key obstacles. Farzad Mostashari, M.D. (Aledade) emphasized that consolidation raises costs without improving quality and that independent practices excel in value-based care, generating twice the shared savings compared to large health systems.
The capsule endoscopy market is projected to grow from $0.69 billion in 2024 to $1.15 billion by 2029, driven by the increasing prevalence of gastrointestinal disorders, demand for non-invasive diagnostics, and advancements in AI-powered and magnetically controlled capsule technology. Key players include Medtronic, Fujifilm, Boston Scientific, and Olympus, with North America leading the market. Emerging trends such as biodegradable capsules and telemedicine integration are expected to further expand market adoption.
In 2023, healthcare providers in the United States potentially expended nearly $18 billion overturning denied insurance claims, according to estimates by Premier. This significant financial burden is partly attributed to the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) by insurance companies to automate claim denials. While AI can streamline operations, its application has led to a rise in claim denials, often without thorough human review, prompting legal challenges and legislative actions. For instance, California enacted a law in December 2024 mandating that any denial, delay, or modification of care based on medical necessity must be reviewed by a licensed physician or…
The Healthy Technology Act of 2025 proposes allowing AI to prescribe medications if state-authorized and FDA-approved, but experts caution that AI prescribing is not yet feasible. While AI assists in decision-making, it lacks the clinical judgment required for independent prescribing. Concerns include data bias, accuracy issues, and regulatory gaps, with no AI currently matching physician expertise. Experts compare AI prescribing to self-driving cars—promising, but requiring rigorous testing before mass adoption. Until prospective clinical trials prove AI’s reliability, the debate over AI’s role in medication management remains open.
Despite guidelines recommending screening for esophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC) and its precursor, Barrett’s esophagus (BO), uptake remains low due to the invasive nature and cost of endoscopy. Emerging non-endoscopic, swallowable cell collection devices combined with biomarker analysis have shown promising accuracy and safety, leading to their inclusion in screening guidelines. Pragmatic trials indicate patient interest, with up to 60% favoring capsule sponge-based screening, suggesting that minimally invasive alternatives could significantly enhance early detection and intervention efforts.