Artificial intelligence (AI)–based tools can be used for various practical applications in oncology, including synthesizing research, organizing patient-related data, and monitoring responses and symptoms, according to Jim Chen, MD. These tools can alleviate the time constraints often faced by community providers, allowing them to offer patients better, more tailored care.
“We face a lot of challenges [in our role, including writing] thousands of papers per year [and having to compile] hundreds of notes,” Chen, a medical oncologist at Genesis Cancer and Blood Institute in Little Rock, Arkansas, as well as a developer at MiBA, said during the inaugural MiBA Community Summit.1 “There’s a lot of information we have access to, [bot] thinking about when and how to access it in a timely manner in a clinical setting [is challenging]. Once we have selected a medication or a trial, making sure it’s in compliance with your institution and which drugs are [actually] available to you [are] all things you have to consider when you make a treatment decision for a patient.”
Why Are Oncologists Talking About AI?
Chen began his presentation by explaining noting that the earliest AI systems, which were developed in the 1950s, were comprised of large arrays of predetermined decisions based on prior experience. These “expert systems” eventually evolved into modern AI systems, which use large language models to allow for the output to be affected by the human language that is input. This distinction of AI models now being able to adjust their output is the driving force behind why AI is a topic of discussion in cancer care in 2025, Chen explained.
AI can currently help oncologists practicing in the community in a multitude of areas, including by gathering patient-specific data, quickly reviewing the existing published literature, and synthesizing payor information. AI-based tools have also displayed clinical utility in noting and tracking updates related to monitoring treatment-related adverse effects and treatment responses in patients.
What Is the Role of the Oncologist in the Development of AI Tools for Community Oncology Practice?
Chen transitioned his presentation to include a demonstration of how an AI-enabled chatbot can be used to support clinical decision-making in community practice. He noted that it is the responsibility of the individual who is inputting the information to check for “hallucinations,” which are responses generated by the AI based on word probabilities. These hallucinations represent a major drawback of AI in 2025, Chen said.
Chen continued by explaining that AI tools are useful in managing information contained within electronic medical records (EMRs), as the present systems are proficient at data entry. AI systems can also be used to extract information from the EMR, making it readily available to oncologists. AI systems can also use notes input by the caregiver to provide additional clinical context, such as the role of disease mutational status on potential treatment response or further data from a given clinical trial.
“[We most want] AI to support our daily practice [with] real-time treatment guideline prompts, automating toxicity monitoring, predictive analytics for preventing [disease] progression, [and] administrative and documentation support,” Chen said.
Chen concluded his presentation by noting that the applications of AI in community practice are rapidly expanding. For example, findings from a literature review published in The Oncologist revealed that the number of studies evaluating large language models in oncology increased significantly from 2022 to 2024.2 These tools are being used in clinical applications including health information access, clinical diagnosis, and disease management, and have the potential to improve clinical accuracy and reduce the workload of providers.
However, Chen emphasized that AI will never fully replace the role of a trained oncologist.1 Rather, the tools will only save time for providers and allow them to further develop and deliver personalized care for patients.
“AI is definitely a tool; it’s not going to take our jobs,” Chen explained in his conclusion.1 “It’s supposed to [provide support] in the things that you find mundane or that split your attention in different directions. AI [can] help you in your development. It is easier than ever for us to [use] it.”
References
- Chen J, Hilton B. The role of AI in community practice oncology.Presented at: MiBA Community Summit; September 27-28, 2025; Scottsdale, Arizona.
- Chen D, Avison K, Alnassar S, Huang RS, Raman S. Medical accuracy of artificial intelligence chatbots in oncology: a scoping review. Oncologist. 2025;30(4):oyaf038. doi:10.1093/oncolo/oyaf038
