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Precision Oncology Through Dialogue: AI-HOPE-RTK-RAS Integrates Clinical and Genomic Insights into RTK-RAS
Ei-Wen Yang1, Brigette Waldrup2, Enrique Velazquez-Villarreal2,3
1PolyAgent, San Francisco, CA 94102, USA.
Abstract:
Background/Objectives: The RTK-RAS signaling cascade is a central axis in colorectal cancer (CRC) pathogenesis, governing cellular proliferation, survival, and therapeutic resistance. Somatic alterations in key pathway genes-including KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, and EGFR-are pivotal to clinical decision-making in precision oncology. However, the integration of these genomic events with clinical and demographic data remains hindered by fragmented resources and a lack of accessible analytical frameworks. To address this challenge, we developed AI-HOPE-RTK-RAS, a domain-specialized conversational artificial intelligence (AI) system designed to enable natural language-based, integrative analysis of RTK-RAS pathway alterations in CRC. Methods: AI-HOPE-RTK-RAS employs a modular architecture combining large language models (LLMs), a natural language-to-code translation engine, and a backend analytics pipeline operating on harmonized multi-dimensional datasets from cBioPortal. Unlike general-purpose AI platforms, this system is purpose-built for real-time exploration of RTK-RAS biology within CRC cohorts. The platform supports mutation frequency profiling, odds ratio testing, survival modeling, and stratified analyses across clinical, genomic, and demographic parameters. Validation included reproduction of known mutation trends and exploratory evaluation of co-alterations, therapy response, and ancestry-specific mutation patterns. Results: AI-HOPE-RTK-RAS enabled rapid, dialogue-driven interrogation of CRC datasets, confirming established patterns and revealing novel associations with translational relevance. Among early-onset CRC (EOCRC) patients, the prevalence of RTK-RAS alterations was significantly lower compared to late-onset disease (67.97% vs. 79.9%; OR = 0.534, p = 0.014), suggesting the involvement of alternative oncogenic drivers. In KRAS-mutant patients receiving Bevacizumab, early-stage disease (Stages I-III) was associated with superior overall survival relative to Stage IV (p = 0.0004). In contrast, BRAF-mutant tumors with microsatellite-stable (MSS) status displayed poorer prognosis despite higher chemotherapy exposure (OR = 7.226, p < 0.001; p = 0.0000). Among EOCRC patients treated with FOLFOX, RTK-RAS alterations were linked to worse outcomes (p = 0.0262). The system also identified ancestry-enriched noncanonical mutations-including CBL, MAPK3, and NF1-with NF1 mutations significantly associated with improved prognosis (p = 1 × 10-5). Conclusions: AI-HOPE-RTK-RAS exemplifies a new class of conversational AI platforms tailored to precision oncology, enabling integrative, real-time analysis of clinically and biologically complex questions. Its ability to uncover both canonical and ancestry-specific patterns in RTK-RAS dysregulation-especially in EOCRC and populations with disproportionate health burdens-underscores its utility in advancing equitable, personalized cancer care. This work demonstrates the translational potential of domain-optimized AI tools to accelerate biomarker discovery, support therapeutic stratification, and democratize access to multi-omic analysis.
Insights
A new AI system, AI-HOPE-RTK-RAS, enables natural language analysis of colorectal cancer (CRC) signaling pathways. It reveals novel associations between RTK-RAS alterations, early-onset CRC, and patient ancestry, aiding precision oncology.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Bioinformatics
- Artificial Intelligence
Background:
- The RTK-RAS pathway is crucial in colorectal cancer (CRC) pathogenesis, influencing proliferation, survival, and treatment resistance.
- Genomic alterations in KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, and EGFR are key in CRC precision oncology.
- Integrating genomic data with clinical/demographic information is challenging due to fragmented resources.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop AI-HOPE-RTK-RAS, a specialized conversational AI for natural language-based, integrative analysis of RTK-RAS pathway alterations in CRC.
- To enable real-time exploration of RTK-RAS biology in CRC cohorts, facilitating biomarker discovery and therapeutic stratification.
Main Methods:
- AI-HOPE-RTK-RAS utilizes a modular architecture with large language models (LLMs) and a natural language-to-code engine.
- It operates on harmonized multi-dimensional datasets from cBioPortal, supporting mutation frequency profiling, odds ratio testing, and survival modeling.
- Validation involved reproducing known trends and exploring co-alterations, therapy response, and ancestry-specific mutation patterns.
Main Results:
- AI-HOPE-RTK-RAS rapidly interrogated CRC datasets, confirming known patterns and identifying novel associations.
- Early-onset CRC (EOCRC) patients showed significantly lower RTK-RAS alterations (67.97%) compared to late-onset (79.9%).
- Specific findings include improved survival in early-stage KRAS-mutant patients treated with Bevacizumab, poorer prognosis for BRAF-mutant/MSS tumors, and ancestry-enriched mutations like NF1 linked to better outcomes.
Conclusions:
- AI-HOPE-RTK-RAS represents a new class of conversational AI for precision oncology, enabling complex, integrative analyses.
- The system uncovers canonical and ancestry-specific RTK-RAS patterns, particularly in EOCRC and underrepresented populations, advancing equitable cancer care.
- This demonstrates the potential of domain-optimized AI tools to accelerate biomarker discovery, refine therapeutic strategies, and democratize multi-omic data access.
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