Insights from an artificial intelligence (AI)–powered cancer navigation platform: Digital support and treatment decision confidence.

Abstract

e13674 Background: Patients with cancer are often overwhelmed with the complexity of their diagnosis, treatment options, and communicating effectively with their care teams. While digital health tools have proliferated, few provide personalized, disease-specific guidance that adapts to individual patient journeys. We developed Manta Cares (ASCO 2025 abst e13713), now with an AI-powered cancer navigation platform featuring Hope AI: a conversational AI companion that empowers patients with knowledge and preparation for clinical conversations. Methods: We analyzed patient interactions from the Manta Cares platform (11/25 – 1/26), including breast cancer, lung cancer, and other malignancies. Key platform features included: personalized cancer maps explaining treatment options; symptom tracker for logging physical and emotional symptoms with severity ratings; appointment notebook for organizing questions for clinical visits; and AI-guided treatment information with curated questions for care teams. We examined feature utilization, patterns in patient-initiated conversations with HopeAI, and qualitative indicators of patient engagement and confidence. Results: Patient interactions clustered around three primary themes: understanding treatment options (42%), navigating appointments and care coordination (31%), and managing treatment impact on daily life (27%). Symptom discussions appeared in approximately half of patient conversations, primarily focused on fatigue, pain, and anxiety. Patients demonstrated increased engagement with appointment preparation features, with users documenting specific questions tailored to their disease subtype and treatment phase. The platform supported patients from diagnosis to survivorship, with active treatment as the most common stage. Patients frequently expressed gratitude for 24/7 support, which helped them feel less alone and more prepared for clinical encounters. The AI companion helped patients discuss prognosis, treatment trade-offs, and quality-of-life issues they found hard to address with their care teams. Conclusions: An AI-powered cancer navigation platform can address critical gaps in patient education and empowerment regardless of tumor type. Manta Cares enhances traditional cancer care through personalized guidance, symptom tracking, and appointment preparation, empowering patients to navigate their experience with greater confidence. Integration of AI-powered navigation tools can complement clinical care and improve patient engagement and treatment decision-making.