Alibaba's AI Model 'Grape' Revolutionizes Early Stomach Cancer Detection

Alibaba's Grape AI tool spots stomach cancer early using CT scans

Called 'Grape' (short for gastric cancer risk assessment procedure), the system was co-developed by Alibaba's Damo Academy and the Zhejiang Cancer Hospital. Backed by a large-scale clinical study involving nearly 100,000 participants across 20 hospitals in China, the model has significantly improved detection rates for gastric cancer. The AI is designed to address a major gap in cancer screening in China, where invasive endoscopic procedures deter many from undergoing early testing. Unlike traditional screening methods that require inserting a camera down the throat, Grape analyzes three-dimensional CT scans to detect and segment signs of stomach cancer, a deadly disease that often stays hidden until it's dangerously advanced. Plain CT scans have long been considered inadequate for examining hollow organs like the stomach, due to shifting anatomy and the subtlety of early lesions. But the research team overcame these limitations by building the world's largest dataset of gastric cancer CT images, enabling the AI to recognize patterns even experienced radiologists might miss.

Alibaba's AI Model Outperforms Radiologists In Early Gastric Cancer Detection - Alibaba Gr Hldgs (NYSE:BABA)

Alibaba Group Holding BABA showcased an artificial intelligence (AI) model designed to identify gastric cancer, co-developed by Alibaba's Damo Academy and the Zhejiang Cancer Hospital. The model can detect gastric cancer, even in early stages, by scanning computed tomography (CT) images. The AI model known as Grape derived its name from the "gastric cancer risk assessment procedure." Grape can analyze three-dimensional CT scans to detect and segment gastric cancer, also known as stomach cancer, SCMP reported on Thursday. Also Read: Alibaba Accelerates Global AI Push, Targets Overseas Data Centers Diagnosis of gastric cancer currently requires an endoscopy, prompting the insertion of a camera and tiny biopsy instruments through the throat. Citing a paper published in Nature Medicine on Tuesday, SCMP reported that the Grape model significantly outperformed radiologists. This initiative underscores Alibaba's strategic move to unlock value by integrating AI technology into its various operations, including healthcare. Following a similar approach, Alibaba had already made a breakthrough in detecting pancreatic cancer in 2023, showcasing a growing focus on applying its AI expertise to critical medical challenges. Beyond healthcare, Alibaba is also making waves in the general AI landscape. Last week, Alibaba revealed new Qwen3 AI models, signaling a possible collaboration or rollout with Apple Inc. AAPL in China amid rising local AI demand. Alibaba co-founder and Chair Joe Tsai opted to open-source its Qwen models, citing their potential to drive demand for AI applications and cloud computing. Open source gives the public access to a software program's source code, allowing third-party developers to modify or scale up its capabilities. IMARC Group expects the global open-source intelligence market to reach $58.0 billion by 2033, at a CAGR of 15.93% from 2025 to 2033. Price Action: BABA stock traded higher by 0.11% to $114.06 premarket at the last check Friday. Read Next: Meta Secures More Clean Energy For Power Hungry AI And Data Center Growth Photo by Aunt Spray via Shutterstock BABAAlibaba Group Holding Ltd$114.140.18%Stock Score Locked: Want to See it? Benzinga Rankings give you vital metrics on any stock - anytime. Reveal Full ScoreEdge RankingsMomentum90.94Growth36.70Quality43.25Value84.93Price TrendShortMediumLongOverviewAAPLApple Inc$201.910.45%Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

China's Alibaba unveils world's first AI tool for early stomach cancer detection

Chinese tech giant Alibaba has announced the launch of what it claims is the world's first artificial intelligence model capable of detecting stomach cancer -- including early-stage cases -- using 3D CT scan analysis. The AI model, named GRAPE, was developed jointly by Alibaba's Damo Academy and Zhejiang Cancer Hospital. It leverages deep learning to detect and segment stomach cancer, according to the South China Morning Post. Stomach cancer causes 260,000 deaths annually in China. Early detection can boost five-year survival rates from under 30 percent to more than 90 percent, yet many patients avoid invasive endoscopy, and the quality of screening varies across hospitals, reported by Xinhua. Cheng Xiangdong, Party chief of Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, said fewer than 30 percent of patients in China follow doctors' advice to undergo an endoscopy. The model was tested on over 70,000 patients, producing promising results. The study, published in Nature Medicine on Tuesday, revealed that the AI model achieved 85.1 percent sensitivity and 96.8 percent specificity, outperforming radiologists by 21.8 percent and 14 percent. Zhang Ling, a senior algorithm expert at DAMO Academy and corresponding author of the study, noted, "This marks the first time non-contrast CT can detect early gastric cancer." Cheng highlighted the potential for the model to transform gastric cancer screening in China and globally, with early-stage detection rates likely to "increase significantly." Gastric cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, often presenting no symptoms even in advanced stages. Damo added that, in a real-world case, a patient with late-stage disease could have been diagnosed six months earlier via CT scans, but the condition was missed by radiologists. Cheng stated that the AI model has already been deployed in high-risk areas for gastric cancer in China, with plans for broader expansion both domestically and internationally.