• KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE
• Nov 2022
• Bulletin

AI Web Tool to Prevent Oral Cancer in Nigeria

OMFS Team Received KE Strategic Impact Scheme Fund

From left: Dr John Adeoye, Professor Richard Su and Dr Jingya Jane Pu

Knowledge exchange team led by Professor Richard Su, Division Head and Clinical Professor in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) initiates a project with the objective to detect oral cancer at early stages in Nigeria by using artificial intelligence (AI)-based web tool among dentists and patients, as well as to promote oral cancer prevention. His project won supports from KE Strategic Impact Scheme Fund (HKD 500,000) by the University of Hong Kong.

Knowledge Exchange from Hong Kong to Nigeria

In 2021, the research team developed and launched an AI-based web tool to predict oral cancer risk among patients that have white patches clinically known as oral leukoplakia (OL) and oral lichenoid mucositis (OLM). These conditions have an inherent disposition to develop oral cancer. The intelligent platform has the potential to improve the selection of patients for surgical excision and close monitoring as well as encourage better secondary prevention and early diagnosis of oral cancer.

The web tool with clinical and pathological features are believed to be easily obtained even in resource-limited settings to encourage consensus application in dental practice. In Nigeria, there are not enough specialists to properly manage and follow up with patients with OL and OLM. As such, many patients are seen by general dental practitioners that may have limited experience in determining which OL or OLM disease is likely to develop oral cancer and which OL or OLM disease will require surgery and close follow-up.

Moreover, many patients are ignorant of the signs of OL, OLM, and early oral cancer which has resulted in the commencement of treatment in advanced stages of oral cancer in Nigeria. It is expected that the healthcare-seeking behaviour among Nigerian patients will improve with enhanced knowledge of the risk and clinical features of OL, OLM, and oral cancer.

“In view of this, we partner with and train two volunteer organizations in Lagos and Abuja, Nigeria, on using and interpreting intelligent web tool for oral cancer risk prediction. We believe the web tool may be impactful in regions with finite resources like Nigeria,” said Professor Su.

The partnered organizations will then train local dental practitioners, allied dental workers, and patients encountered in various outreaches in Nigeria to use the AI web tool with our support. Moreover, this project will include awareness programs among Lagos and Abuja Nigerian communities on risk factors and early clinical appearances of oral cancer. “We will also emphasize the need for routine dental visitation and monitoring among patients predicted or perceived to have a high risk of oral cancer to encourage early diagnosis,” added Dr Jane Pu, Honorary Clinical Tutor.

Benefiting the Community Within and Beyond Hong Kong

The web tool is impactful, not just in Hong Kong but also for those medically underserved areas like Nigeria. It assists dentists in understanding patients’ malignant transformation risks and better stratifying them for optimal treatment selection and planning.

Additionally, it enables prompt intervention or referral for high-risk patients to aid in secondary prevention and early diagnosis of oral cancer. Furthermore, patients are able to understand their risk of developing oral cancer which would motivate them to adhere to the follow-up regimen and disease surveillance procedures (like cytology and biopsy) as recommended by their dentists.

With the support of the KE Fund, the team has the opportunity to actualize the development of the web tool as it relates to providing decision support in Nigeria. “It will be exciting to see the impact that our tool and awareness programs have as it relates to the prevention and early diagnosis of oral cancer among these Nigerian communities in the future,” said Dr John Adeoye, PhD Student.

Looking Forward

The team believes that the increased utilization of this tool will refine the planning of treatment strategies for patients with OL and OLM in the Nigerian setting. Patients will also be familiar with the use of this tool as well as the risk factors and early clinical signs of oral cancer. “We believe this will motivate them to adhere to dentists’ recommendations and will improve their healthcare-seeking behaviour as it relates to oral cancer and oral potentially malignant disorders. Overall, we hope that the project will foster more collaboration between institutions in Hong Kong and Nigeria,” concluded Professor Su.