Harnessing AI for Better Outcomes in Endometrial Cancer: An Interview with Vincent Wagner, MD
Vincent Wagner, MD, of University of Iowa Health Care and the 2024 recipient of the Foundation for Women’s Cancer’s Research Grant in Honor of Dr. Ginger Gardner, is using artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionize cancer care. His work aims to improve outcomes for patients with gynecologic cancers, with a particular focus on endometrial cancer.
Dr. Wagner’s passion for personalized medicine and AI tools developed early in his career, driven by a belief in technology’s transformative power. With a background in biomedical engineering, he built expertise in algorithms and machine learning. During his medical training, he witnessed advancements in AI and recognized its potential to address challenges in oncology.
“AI offers solutions ranging from basic research to daily clinical management,” says Dr. Wagner. “My focus on gynecologic cancers stems from the need for greater attention to these diseases, which often receive less focus compared to more prevalent cancers. Harnessing AI allows me to address this gap and make a meaningful impact.”
Dr. Wagner’s research addresses both immediate and long-term needs in endometrial cancer care. In the short term, his AI-based methods aim to enhance molecular classification of tumors—a process that is traditionally expensive and time-consuming.
“By improving the accuracy and speed of tumor profiling, we can enable timely and personalized treatment decisions,” he explains.
In the long term, integrating AI tools with data from diverse sources, such as pathology and genomics, could create comprehensive models for predicting outcomes. This could help clinicians tailor treatment plans, improve survival rates, and reduce health disparities.
“By making these tools accessible through web applications, we can bring advanced diagnostics to underserved populations, reversing rising trends in endometrial cancer incidence and mortality,” Dr. Wagner notes.
Over the next decade, Dr. Wagner envisions AI becoming a central tool in gynecologic oncology. From improving diagnostic accuracy to enhancing patient-doctor relationships, AI can amplify clinicians’ ability to provide compassionate and precise care.
“AI will not replace clinicians but will empower them,” he emphasizes. “It has the potential to lower costs, improve efficiency, and expand access to high-quality care globally.”
For underserved populations, AI-driven tools hold significant promise. Dr. Wagner’s research focuses on using AI to make diagnostics more affordable and accessible. By automating complex processes, such as molecular subtyping, these tools can bridge gaps in healthcare access.
“Telemedicine platforms and AI-driven decision support tools can extend high-quality care to remote areas,” he says. “My goal is to democratize personalized medicine so all patients can benefit from precise and effective care.”
Dr. Wagner highlights the importance of ethical considerations, such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, and transparency. To address these challenges, he relies on diverse datasets, rigorous validation, and collaboration with ethicists and patient advocates.
“Building trust begins with education and transparency,” he explains. “Patients and clinicians need to understand how AI tools work, their benefits, and limitations. User-friendly platforms and clear communication are key to fostering confidence.”
Dr. Wagner credits the Foundation for Women’s Cancer for supporting his groundbreaking work. “The Foundation’s funding for data collection, computational resources, and validation efforts is critical,” he says. “Collaborations with institutions, organizations, and advocacy groups will further enhance the impact of this research.” The broader community also plays a role by raising awareness of AI’s potential to transform cancer care. By investing in these technologies, we can work toward a future where personalized medicine improves outcomes for all individuals with gynecologic cancers.
