Role of Deep Learning in Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prognosis of Oncological Conditions

Abstract

Deep learning, a branch of artificial intelligence, excavates massive data sets for patterns and predictions using a machine learning method known as artificial neural networks. Research on the potential applications of deep learning in understanding the intricate biology of cancer has intensified due to its increasing applications among healthcare domains and the accessibility of extensively characterized cancer datasets. Although preliminary findings are encouraging, this is a fast-moving sector where novel insights into deep learning and cancer biology are being discovered. We give a framework for new deep learning methods and their applications in oncology in this review. Our attention was directed towards its applications for DNA methylation, transcriptomic, and genomic data, along with histopathological inferences. We offer insights into how these disparate data sets can be combined for the creation of decision support systems. Specific instances of learning applications in cancer prognosis, diagnosis, and therapy planning are presented. Additionally, the present barriers and difficulties in deep learning applications in the field of precision oncology, such as the dearth of phenotypical data and the requirement for more explicable deep learning techniques have been elaborated. We wrap up by talking about ways to get beyond the existing challenges so that deep learning can be used in healthcare settings in the future.