SPELCASTER, a major new European research initiative is using advanced artificial intelligence (AI) to transform the diagnosis and treatment of rare head and neck cancers.
The project sees the Beaumont RCSI Cancer Centre in Dublin collaborate with experts from across Europe to develop AI‑driven diagnostic tools capable of delivering faster, more accurate tumour classification and supporting more personalised treatment strategies for cancers arising in the nose, sinus cavities and salivary glands.
Sinonasal and salivary gland tumours are rare but aggressive, and their visual similarity under the microscope frequently leads to diagnostic uncertainty. Current treatment pathways also lack robust predictors of how individual patients will respond to therapy. This combination limits clinicians’ ability to deliver timely, tailored interventions.
SPELCASTER aims to overcome these barriers by developing a next‑generation diagnostic test that uses machine‑learning algorithms to analyse chemical markers on DNA. This DNA methylation-based classification system will enable more precise discrimination between tumour subtypes and improve predictions of treatment response. By integrating AI into the earliest stages of the clinical pathway, the project
seeks to support more informed decision-making and improve long‑term outcomes for patients.
Transformative research
The Irish element of the project will be led by scientists and clinicians at the Beaumont RCSI Cancer Centre. Principal Investigator Dr Sudipto Das, Senior Lecturer in the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, will work in collaboration with Clinical Lead Mr Robbie Woods, a Consultant Otorhinolaryngologist with a specialist interest in head and neck cancer.
“This project has the potential to be truly transformative for patients with rare head and neck cancers,” according to Dr Sudipto Das. By embedding machine learning into diagnostic workflows, we can generate insights that are not attainable through conventional pathology alone. This collaboration will not only enhance current clinical practice but also deepen our understanding of tumour biology over time.
Mr Robbie Woods, Clinical Lead for the project, added: “By improving how we diagnose these tumours and identifying better biomarkers of response, we can deliver more personalised, timely and effective treatments while sparing patients unnecessary side effects. We look forward to developing collaborations with head and neck cancer patient advocacy groups both in Ireland and in Europe who will play a vital role in informing the ongoing research.”
Professor Fergal O’Brien, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation at RCSI, said: “This project exemplifies how scientists and clinicians at the Beaumont RCSI Cancer Centre are working together to advance research that has real-world impact for cancer patients. I congratulate Dr Das and Mr Woods for leading Ireland’s involvement in this important international collaboration and I look forward to seeing how the findings will help clinicians to provide improved diagnostics and treatments for their patients and improve outcomes for these rare cancers.”
Collaboration
The research project, Standardised Profiling of Epigenetic Loci for decentralised ClAssification of Sinonasal Tumors and idEntification of therapy Response markers (SPELCASTER), is a €1.56 million EU‑funded initiative under the TRANSCAN call. In Ireland, it is supported by the Health Research Board.
Participating institutions include Charite Universitatemezdin Berlin, Germany; Institute Gustave Roussy, France; Humanitas University, Milan, Italy; Ludwig-Maximillans Universitat, Munich, Germany; and Instituto de Investigacio Sanitiara del Principado de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain.
For more information about SPELCASTER, visit the official TRANSCAN website.
