In the complex landscape of modern oncology, clinicians stand at the intersection of patient care and data science. They navigate a deluge of information—from patient histories and lab results to evolving diagnostic guidelines. The challenge is not a lack of data, but the need to synthesize it effectively to make timely, informed decisions. Within the broader ONCOSCREEN project, Konnektable Technologies Ltd. has developed ONCO-CLIDE, a Clinical Decision Support System (cDSS) designed specifically to address this challenge for colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosis.
ONCO-CLIDE is not intended to be another layer of complexity. Instead, it’s engineered to be a unified platform for clinicians that brings clarity and structure to the diagnostic process.
More Than Just a Viewer: Core Functionality
At its core, ONCO-CLIDE provides the essential functionalities of a modern Electronic Health Record (EHR) system, specifically tailored to the unique needs of CRC diagnosis. Clinicians can manage their patient caseload by creating and updating patient records with clinical history, and notes. The system is designed to support real-world clinical workflows, enabling seamless uploading and display of critical medical examinations and diagnostic reports. Whether it’s a colonoscopy video, a pathology report, or imaging scans, ONCO-CLIDE presents this information in a structured and accessible patient-centric view.
This foundational capability ensures that clinicians have a reliable and organized digital environment, reducing the administrative burden of tracking down disparate pieces of information.
The Power of Integration: ONCO-CLIDE as the ONCOSCREEN Data Consumer
ONCO-CLIDE’s full potential is realized through its role as the central integration hub for the entire ONCOSCREEN project. It acts as the final data consumer, unifying information from multiple innovative sources into a single, cohesive patient profile. This integration is what transforms it from a simple data repository into a powerful decision support tool.
Here’s how it works:
- Innovative Diagnostic Tests: The ONCOSCREEN project is pioneering several early diagnostic tests (ONCO-VOC, ONCO-CRISPR, ONCO-NMR, ONCO-CTC). Instead of receiving these results as standalone reports, the data is channeled directly into ONCO-CLIDE and associated with the correct patient file. This allows a clinician to view results from a novel blood test alongside a traditional CT scan, all within the same interface.
- Patient-Sourced Information (ONCO-CAWA): Through the ONCO-CAWA patient application, individuals can provide lifestyle information and customized questionnaires. This patient-generated data flows into ONCO-CLIDE, giving the clinician a more holistic understanding of the patient’s context. The app also serves as a portal for patients . to access their results, once shared by the clinician.
- Integrated Risk Assessment (ONCO-RISTE): Calculating a patient’s risk for CRC can be complex. ONCO-CLIDE directly embeds the interface for the ONCO-RISTE risk calculation engine. This means a clinician can interact with the risk model, inputting or adjusting factors in real-time to see an immediate risk score, all without leaving the patient’s file.
- A Solid Foundation (FHIR Data Lake): Underpinning all these connections is the project’s FHIR-based data lake. This standardized repository ensures that all information, regardless of its source, is interoperable and can be reliably presented within ONCO-CLIDE.
Guiding the Next Step: A Closer Look at the Dual Decision Support Engines
Beyond data aggregation, ONCO-CLIDE’s assistive power lies in its dual decision support engines. We recognize that clinical decision-making is not a one-size-fits-all process. To accommodate this, the system incorporates two distinct but complementary systems to provide diagnostic suggestions. It’s vital to emphasize that these are designed to be assistive tools, not directives.
Engine 1: The Defined Rules System – The Voice of Established Practice
Think of this first engine as the digital embodiment of established medical knowledge. It operates on a transparent, logic-based framework of “if-then” rules that are defined, reviewed, and approved by clinical experts.
- A Practical Example: A 52-year-old patient with a family history of CRC is entered into the system. The defined rules engine triggers an alert: “Patient meets criteria for screening based on age and family history. Consider recommending a colonoscopy or FIT test as per [Guideline X].“
- The Benefit for the Clinician: Reliability and Consistency. This engine acts as a safety net, helping prevent oversights, ensure adherence to the standard of care, and streamline routine workflows with transparent, evidence-based reminders.
Engine 2: The Adaptive Rules System – A Data-Driven Collaborator
Where the defined rules system ensures consistency, the adaptive engine brings flexibility. Powered by AI, this engine offers next-step predictions based on complex patterns in historical data.
- A Practical Example: For a patient with inconclusive imaging and non-specific symptoms, the adaptive engine might identify that their unique combination of a borderline ONCO-NMR marker and a specific lifestyle factor has, in similar historical cases, preceded a specific finding. The system would not issue a diagnosis but might suggest: “[Specific Exam] should be performed with an X accuracy” The factors that played the most important role in the decision would be visible with SHAP explainability diagrams.
- The Benefit for the Clinician: Augmented Insight. In diagnostically challenging cases, this engine acts as a data-driven collaborator, helping clinicians explore potential avenues they may not have otherwise considered, and expanding the diagnostic perspective.
Together, these two engines work in harmony, allowing the clinician to weigh the certainty of established guidelines against the pattern-based insights of AI, and ensuring the support offered is both safe and innovative.
A Realistic Perspective: A Tool to Support, Not Replace
It is important to be clear about the role of ONCO-CLIDE: it is a supportive tool, not a replacement for clinical expertise. While ONCO-CLIDE offers powerful features to assist with complex decision-making, the final judgment—interpreting nuanced results, choosing the appropriate course of action, and delivering compassionate care—will always rest with the clinician.
The primary aim of ONCO-CLIDE is to alleviate cognitive burden. By intelligently organizing clinical data, integrating advanced diagnostic results, and offering structured, context-aware suggestions, the system frees up valuable time and mental energy. This enables clinicians to focus on what truly matters: critical thinking, direct patient engagement, and expert medical decision-making.
As the ONCOSCREEN project continues to evolve, ONCO-CLIDE will stand as the critical link between innovative research and practical clinical application, empowering healthcare professionals in the ongoing effort to improve outcomes for patients with colorectal cancer.