Researchers with Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center , part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, have created a framework for developing, evaluating and implementing AI tools in cancer survivorship and supportive care, according to a new proof-of-concept study published in the journal Translational Behavioral Medicine .
The framework—Precision AI for Survivorship and Supportive Care—is designed to personalize evidence-based support as survivors navigate persistent side effects and other challenges after treatment while maintaining clinical oversight and safety guardrails.
“For many survivors, the hardest part isn’t always treatment itself. It’s what happens afterward, when patients are managing fatigue, anxiety, uncertainty and other challenges between clinic visits,” said study lead Frank Penedo, Ph.D., director of Sylvester’s Survivorship and Supportive Care Institute and Sylvester associate director for population sciences. “We’re exploring whether AI can help extend evidence-based support beyond the walls of the cancer center so survivors feel more connected, informed and supported throughout their journey, while not replacing in-person care and having access to their providers as part of their standard of care.”
The framework builds on years of survivorship research and clinical infrastructure developed at Sylvester. Through My Wellness Check , an electronic health record-integrated screening and triage program, patients routinely report symptoms, quality-of-life concerns, practical needs and other survivorship challenges before appointments.
Since expanding across the cancer center, the program has collected longitudinal patient-reported outcomes, supportive care needs and nutritional data from more than 37,000 ambulatory oncology patients.
Researchers also evaluated data from a subsample that included 25,592 of these ambulatory cancer survivors followed over 36 months to develop machine-learning models that identify patterns associated with symptom burden and unplanned health care utilization. Implementing these advanced analytic and AI-driven techniques improved predictive precision for unfavorable outcomes by over 25%. Together, those resources provide the foundation for developing more personalized supportive care strategies.
The team’s current work builds on the data and infrastructure behind My Wellness Check with an AI-enabled platform called My Wellness Support.
This platform combines patient-reported outcomes, clinical records and behavioral information to identify risk patterns and unmet needs. That information tailors evidence-based educational resources, symptom-management strategies, resources to address practical needs and supportive care recommendations to each patient.
Survivors will interact with an AI companion while the study team and clinicians monitor trends, risk scores and alerts through a dedicated dashboard.
“A patient may be doing well medically but still be struggling with symptoms, stress or questions that arise between appointments,” said Akina Natori, M.D., MSPH , a Sylvester oncologist and assistant professor in the Miller School’s Division of Medical Oncology . “The goal is not to replace those interactions with clinicians but to create another layer of support that helps identify concerns earlier and gives patients access to trusted, evidence-based information when they need it.”
Researchers say the platform is designed to operate within established clinical guidelines and safety guardrails, and maintain human oversight. The project remains in early testing.
“New technologies often move faster than the systems designed to evaluate them,” said Sara Fleszar-Pavlović, Ph.D. , research assistant professor in the Miller School’s Division of Medical Oncology and director of research operations for Sylvester’s Survivorship and Supportive Care Institute. “That’s why our framework emphasizes scientific validation, transparency and continuous evaluation. If AI is going to become part of adjunctive survivorship and supportive care, we have to ensure it is safe, effective and developed with a range of patient populations in mind.”
By pairing new technology with rigorous science, researchers hope to help cancer survivors receive the support they need between appointments while establishing a model for how AI can be responsibly integrated into survivorship and supportive care.
Translational Behavioral Medicine
The potential of AI for adjunctive supportive care in cancer survivorship: opportunities, challenges, and the PRECISION-AI practical framework
25-Sep-2026