From Cochrane To Chatbots: Why Evidence Matters Now More Than Ever In The AI Era
This article was originally published in Forbes on 02 September 2025. In oncology, discovery is moving at warp speed. Hundreds of new studies are published each week, sometimes more than a dozen in a single day. For patients and providers, this fire hose of information could equate to life-saving breakthroughs—a new biomarker, a novel dosing schedule or a survival-prolonging treatment. But it also equates to risk. Misinterpret a flawed trial, overtrust anecdotal experience or trust the wrong person, and patients are left at the mercy of ineffective or even harmful treatments. And so, as this deluge of data overwhelms us with such velocity, the imperative is ensuring that decisions are well-informed by precise, whole and transparent evidence. That all starts with one man: Archibald Leman Cochrane. Archibald Cochrane: The Original Evidence Disruptor Archibald Cochrane was a British physician and epidemiologist who served as a prisoner-of-war doctor in World War II. With effectively no medicines at his disposal, he watched patients suffer because care was based more on habit than proof. After the war, he became an outspoken advocate for a revolutionary principle: Medicine must be based on evidence that has been tested and proven, not on practice or expert opinion. In 1972, he published Effectiveness and Efficiency: Random Reflections on Health Services, a text that shook the medical establishment through criticism of its reliance on anecdotes. He argued that randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were required to determine whether treatments were effective and called for doctors and patients to be presented with objective summaries of all pertinent evidence. His vision inspired the Cochrane Collaboration, founded in 1993, which remains the global leader in producing systematic reviews. Pre-Cochrane, the concept of a controlled clinical trial did not exist. He was the one who established the use of controlled clinical trials, which have now become the gold standard for evaluating new treatments. Building On Solid Ground Cochrane’s work gave us the pyramid of evidence, often used to illustrate the hierarchy of reliability. The higher you climb in the pyramid, the stronger the foundation for life-and-death decisions. Why Systematic Reviews Save Lives In oncology, where treatment options evolve daily, systematic reviews are essential. A single study, whether positive or negative, rarely tells the full story. Systematic reviews, however, consider the entire body of evidence and account for consistency, quality and nuance. Nearly every modern guideline (from the World Health Organization to the FDA) requires systematic reviews as the foundation of clinical recommendations. These methods are necessary because lives depend on them. When Chatbots Pretend To Be Experts We’ve now entered the AI era, where large language models and chatbots can generate fluent answers to intricate medical questions in seconds. To overwhelmed oncologists confronting a deluge of literature, this might look like salvation. But these tools don’t follow the hierarchy of evidence. They don’t methodically scan all the studies, grade the quality of trials or reveal how they arrived at their conclusions. They generate responses based on text patterns that are sometimes accurate, sometimes incomplete and sometimes entirely fabricated. I’ve heard an example just last week from one of my medical colleagues: An AI tool produced a reference under his name for an article he had never written. It was a perfect illustration of how these systems behave like an overeager student desperate to provide an answer, even if that means inventing one. A chatbot’s “best guess” could mean proposing a treatment that introduces unnecessary toxicity to patients or worse, missing a well-documented new trial that would improve survival. The irony is that most of us would never hand over the task of booking a flight to a chatbot without carefully double-checking everything—the departure point, the destination city, the time of day. Yet somehow, when it comes to medical treatment, many are willing to accept incomplete or outdated chatbot outputs at face value. That disconnect should give us pause. Fluency Isn’t Truth One of the greatest risks of AI in medicine is that it sounds authoritative. Chatbots excel at fluency, but fluency is not the same as truth. At this time, AI simply isn’t ready for the weight we’re placing on it. Too many people are so captivated by what it can do that they forget the most basic principle of science and medicine. You must double-check the information. That fascination is dangerous. It encourages blind trust in answers that may be incomplete, misleading or outright wrong. If we allow fluency to masquerade as reliability, medicine risks sliding backward to the pre-Cochrane era, when anecdotes and authority carried more weight than solid data. Smarter Together I’m not saying that AI has no place in evidence-based medicine. Far from it. Let machines handle the tedious but essential work of scanning thousands of papers, formatting endless references and keeping reviews continuously updated as new trials are published. These are the repetitive housekeeping tasks that often slow researchers down, yet must be done with precision. I often compare it to household chores. AI should be doing the vacuuming so humans can spend their time on meaningful work. That’s exactly how my team approaches it. We’ve built a model that uses 36 different AI systems, integrated under the supervision of PhD-level experts, to make systematic reviews dramatically faster without compromising accuracy. Don’t outsource judgment to machines. Give human experts more bandwidth to do what only they can do: Interpret the evidence, weigh the nuances and make the right decisions for patients. Evidence Still Rules Cochrane warned half a century ago that a great deal of medicine lacked solid evidence. His admonition is even more urgent today. With AI, the danger is overconfidence in fluent machines that sound convincing but aren’t built on rigorous evidence. AI must serve evidence, not replace it. Healthcare leaders, policymakers and clinicians need to insist on transparency, rigor and comprehensiveness as absolute necessities. Because in oncology, and medicine in general, lives are at stake. And regardless of how much the tech advances, one thing will always be true: Evidence still rules. This article is
The Healthy Enterprise Podcast: AI’s Role in Modern Oncology – A New Era of Evidence-Based Cancer Care
Our very own Founder & CEO Anna Forsythe was recently on The Healthy Enterprise podcast to talk about Oncoscope-AI and how our practice-changing platform delivers real-time treatment insights, clinical guidelines, and research to support oncologists in an ever-evolving cancer landscape. Watch on YouTube: Listen on Spotify: Listen on Pocket Casts: From The Healthy Enterprise Podcast: In this episode of The Healthy Enterprise, Anna Forsythe, founder and CEO of Oncoscope-AI, shares her journey from manually processing oncology data to creating an AI-powered platform that delivers real-time treatment insights, clinical guidelines, and research to support oncologists in an ever-evolving cancer landscape. She discusses the importance of reliable evidence in decision-making, the positive response from physicians using the free platform, and the role of systematic data reviews in building trust and efficiency. Beyond the technology, Anna reflects on her entrepreneurial path, the challenges and opportunities of leading in healthcare, and the importance of cultivating talent, mission-driven culture, and visionary leadership. The conversation concludes with her insights on business models, community impact, and the future of AI in advancing cancer care. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Oncoscope-AI and Anna Forsythe03:04 The Need for Real-Time Oncology Data05:59 Transitioning from Manual to Automated Data Processing09:11 The Role of AI in Oncology12:13 Feedback and Response from Healthcare Professionals14:45 Data Sources and Systematic Reviews in Oncology18:02 Future Developments and Expanding Services21:53 AI in Research: Balancing Trust and Efficiency25:52 Business Model and Revenue Streams29:44 Personal Journey and Altruism in Business32:56 Challenges and Opportunities in Healthcare35:34 Leadership and Team Dynamics39:29 Visionary Leadership and Future Aspirations Guest Information: Takeaways: Keywords: Oncology, AI, healthcare, data processing, clinical guidelines, cancer treatment, healthcare technology, real-time data, systematic reviews, healthcare professionals, AI, healthcare, business model, cancer treatment, research, leadership, altruism, revenue streams, technology, innovation Enjoy this clip from the episode:
Oncoscope-AI Launches Edge for Leaders Shaping the Next Standard of Cancer Care
This press release was originally published to EINPresswire on 28 August 2025. NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, August 28, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ — Oncoscope-AI, a pioneer in real-time oncology evidence solutions, today announced the launch of Oncoscope Edge, a premium decision-support platform designed for oncology leaders and decision-makers who demand comprehensive, flexible, and actionable insights. In today’s fast-moving oncology landscape, specialists face an overwhelming volume of data—from thousands of new clinical trials to rapidly evolving guidelines and regulatory updates. Oncoscope Edge empowers oncologists, fellows-in-training, researchers, and educators with advanced tools to find, filter, and synthesize the evidence that matters most. “Oncoscope Edge is built for the leaders shaping the next standard of care,” said Anna Forsythe, PharmD, MBA, Founder and CEO of Oncoscope-AI. “Whether you are preparing for a congress talk, conducting a scientific project, guiding a tumor board, or training the next generation of oncologists, Edge delivers clarity from complexity—instantly.” Advanced Features of Oncoscope Edge include: With these capabilities, Oncoscope Edge goes beyond surface-level searches, available now in Oncology-AI’s Essential tool, to deliver deeper, customizable searches and user-generated reports—enabling oncology leaders to stay ahead in a field where evidence evolves daily. About Oncoscope-AI Oncoscope-AI is the first real-time oncology information platform integrating treatment data, guidelines, peer-reviewed publications, and regulatory approvals. By combining AI-powered systematic literature reviews with expert human validation, Oncoscope ensures that oncology decision-making is grounded in the most current and reliable evidence. Sign up for a free license key (verified health care professionals only) or to receive a demo.
In the AI Era, Are Doctors Still at the Cutting Edge of Medicine? Oncoscope-AI Founder Anna Forsythe Asks
This article was originally published in Success Magazine. Artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized industries, from finance and logistics to advertising and agriculture. It has offered new efficiencies, insights and capabilities that were seemingly unimaginable just a few decades ago. Healthcare is no exception. In oncology, especially, where the volume of emerging research and the complexity of personalized treatments are accelerating, intelligent tools have become integral. Oncoscope-AI, an advanced oncology intelligence platform, was created to respond to this need. The catalyst behind the founding of the company was a profound question: How can AI help doctors keep up with and apply the flood of cancer breakthroughs to improve real-world patient care? The company has made answering that question its mission. Refining the approach to cancer treatment Anna Forsythe, founder of Oncoscope-AI, believes the cancer landscape today is vastly different from what it was 10 years ago. This is particularly evident in breast and lung cancer, two of the most commonly diagnosed cancers worldwide. “Before, a diagnosis of breast cancer meant a standard treatment regimen for nearly all patients. Individual biological differences didn’t matter. But our understanding has evolved,” Forsythe explains. Indeed, what was called “breast cancer” is now understood as multiple subtypes. Each has its own biological behavior, prognosis and treatment response. Similarly, lung cancer has splintered into a web of genetically and immunologically distinct conditions. The era of the one-size-fits-all approach, dominated by blanket chemotherapy, surgery and radiation, is fading. A more refined model of cancer treatment has emerged in its place. Forsythe states that today’s oncology is driven by two approaches. One is immunotherapy, which amplifies the body’s immune response to fight the disease from within. The other is targeted therapy, which focuses on specific biomarkers or genetic mutations within the tumor itself. They’re usually used in tandem with the goal of turning terminal-stage cancers into manageable, chronic conditions. Consider the arrival of CDK4/6 inhibitors palbociclib, ribociclib and abemaciclib and how they changed the landscape for breast cancer treatment. According to research based on trials, CDK4/6 inhibitors are considered revolutionary in breast cancer treatment and have played a key role in slowing progression. Progression-free survival, or how long a patient can live without the cancer worsening, has become the new benchmark of success. New challenges for physicians This progress introduces a new kind of pressure, however. “With every new biomarker discovered, every new targeted therapy or immunotherapy approved, the challenge for physicians multiplies,” Forsythe states. “How can any oncologist stay up to date with thousands of new studies, frequent regulatory updates and a deluge of clinical data?” At a single oncology conference, countless new abstracts may be released in just one cancer type. The expectation is that doctors will somehow process all of this while continuing to see patients, manage treatments and fulfill legal requirements for ongoing medical education. In theory, continuous medical education (CME) should help doctors stay current. In practice, it’s difficult for health professionals to retain all the information. Enter Oncoscope-AI Oncoscope-AI has emerged to empower healthcare professionals. Forsythe, a pharmacist, health economist and former pharmaceutical executive, designed it to bridge the divide between cutting-edge research and practical clinical application. The platform scans thousands of oncology publications using proprietary AI, filters them through an evidence-based framework and presents only the most clinically actionable insights. According to Oncoscope-AI, these findings are reviewed and contextualized by a human research team before being published in the system. The impact of Oncoscope-AI is best felt in patient stories. A friend Forsythe met while traveling was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. She had undergone traditional chemotherapy and surgery that left her physically and emotionally drained. “She was then prescribed one of the breakthrough CDK4/6 inhibitors. Her life changed. She regained energy, joy, and time,” Forsythe shares. However, when her cancer began to progress again, her oncologist defaulted to standard chemotherapy, believing there were no more options. There were. However, the doctor didn’t know. Forsythe sent her friend research summaries and articles through Oncoscope-AI, which she later shared with her doctor. She was then prescribed a new-generation therapy. “She’s thriving now,” says Forsythe. “She just returned from a trip to France and is booking another.” Aiming to help health professionals and patients thrive This story raises a question. How many more patients are out there who could live longer, better lives if only their doctors had access to the right information at the right time? “The problem is not the doctors. It’s the data overload,” Forsythe emphasizes. “The solution isn’t replacing physicians with AI, but equipping them with AI tools that distill noise into knowledge and confusion into clarity.” Oncoscope-AI is striving to do just that. It’s working to help oncologists across the globe turn the latest science into tangible outcomes for patients in the exam room, not months later when guidelines catch up. This article is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. If you are seeking medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider.
From Cochrane to Chatbots: Have We Forgotten the Evidence?
If medicine had a godfather of evidence, his name would be Archie. Archibald Leman Cochrane, that is. Cochrane wasn’t just a physician—he was a rebel against tradition. In the 1970s, he looked around at the medical world and said, essentially: “Too much of what we do is based on habit and authority, not actual proof.” He proposed a radical idea: let’s rank evidence by reliability. At the bottom sat case reports and expert opinions—interesting, but hardly solid. Above that came observational studies, then randomized controlled trials (RCTs). And sitting proudly at the top of the pyramid? Systematic literature reviews (SLRs): structured evaluations that capture all the studies, critique their quality, and synthesize their findings. That hierarchy became the foundation of what we now call Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM). Why Systematic Reviews Matter Systematic reviews aren’t academic busywork. They’re the reason guidelines from the World Health Organization, NICE, and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) are trustworthy. They’re why the FDA demands comprehensive, systematic evidence before approving a therapy. The principle is simple: no single trial tells the full story, but when you put the whole picture together—carefully, transparently, reproducibly—you can make decisions that change lives. But Have We Forgotten Cochrane? Fast forward to today. AI chatbots can answer clinical questions in seconds. They sound authoritative, but they don’t follow Cochrane’s hierarchy. They don’t systematically review literature. They don’t grade evidence for quality. And they definitely don’t show their work. In oncology, where new studies are published daily, this is not a minor issue. A chatbot that casually cites one study—or worse, invents a citation—could mislead a physician into recommending something harmful, or missing a life-saving option. It’s like we built the evidence pyramid over decades, and now, dazzled by shiny AI, we’re forgetting why we built it in the first place. The Way Forward The future of evidence isn’t abandoning systematic reviews. It’s making them living: constantly updated, rigorous, and transparent. AI does have a role to play here—not as a chatbot dispensing unverified answers, but as a tool that accelerates and augments systematic reviews. That’s exactly what we’re building at Oncoscope: living SLRs, human-vetted and PhD-curated, augmented by AI. Reliable, current, and ready to support the most important decisions in oncology. Because in cancer care, evidence isn’t an academic debate. It’s a matter of life, harm, or hope. So the question is: are we going to let chatbots distract us from Cochrane’s lesson—or use AI to fulfill it? Anna Forsythe is the Founder and President of Oncoscope-AI, the first platform to bring together real-time oncology treatment data, clinical guidelines, research publications, and regulatory approvals — all in one place, just like Expedia for cancer care. Available free to oncology professionals worldwide, Oncoscope-AI is redefining how cancer care information is accessed and applied. A clinically trained Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD), Anna also holds a Master’s in Health Economics and Policy from the University of Birmingham (UK) and an MBA from Columbia University. She previously co-founded Purple Squirrel Economics (acquired by Cytel in 2020) and led Global Value and Access at Eisai Pharmaceuticals, following earlier roles at Novartis and Bayer in clinical research and health economics.
Oncology AI & Trust: Humans First
Recorded live on 01 August 2025, a timely and thought-provoking discussion on the evolving role of AI in oncology—and why human judgment must remain at the center of every decision. As AI tools become increasingly integrated into cancer care, questions of trust, transparency, and responsibility are more important than ever. In this expert panel, we’ll explore where AI adds the most value, where caution is needed, and how we keep humans firmly in the driver’s seat. Speakers: Moderated by:
America’s AI Action Plan & Implications for AI-Powered Clinical Support Tools
As federal AI policy takes shape, it’s clear that healthcare innovation is entering a new era — one that demands both technical progress and public trust. The White House’s latest AI Action Plan pushes for national standards, clinical validation, and regulatory sandboxes to accelerate the safe, responsible use of AI in healthcare. It also warns that tools deployed without transparency, oversight, or clinical grounding may face new scrutiny — especially as states begin passing their own health AI laws. What is in the policy changes? The White House recently unveiled its “AI Action Plan,” which includes plans to tie federal AI funding access to a state’s regulatory position, potentially negatively impacting states that impose what the administration deems “burdensome” AI regulations. Another thrust of the plan is to establish regulatory sandboxes (AI Centers of Excellence), backed by NIST*-led health AI standards. These initiatives are framed around speeding up AI innovation—especially in healthcare and drug discovery. * National Institute of Standards and Technology Why does this matter for AI-powered Clinical Support Tools (CST) in Oncology? What should providers of AI-powered medical tools do? AI in healthcare is not just a tech problem — it’s a policy, workflow, and trust challenge. This legislation underscores how critical it is to be proactive at the intersection of innovation, transparency, and ethical design. I would love to hear from other founders or clinicians navigating this space—how are you approaching regulation and federal‑state interplay? Anna Forsythe is the Founder and President of Oncoscope-AI, the first platform to bring together real-time oncology treatment data, clinical guidelines, research publications, and regulatory approvals — all in one place, just like Expedia for cancer care. Available free to oncology professionals worldwide, Oncoscope-AI is redefining how cancer care information is accessed and applied. A clinically trained Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD), Anna also holds a Master’s in Health Economics and Policy from the University of Birmingham (UK) and an MBA from Columbia University. She previously co-founded Purple Squirrel Economics (acquired by Cytel in 2020) and led Global Value and Access at Eisai Pharmaceuticals, following earlier roles at Novartis and Bayer in clinical research and health economics.
Why an AI Chatbot Can’t Replace a Systematic Literature Review — and What It Can Do
In a world where AI is evolving rapidly, one question keeps coming up in healthcare, especially in evidence generation and market access: “Can an AI chatbot replace a systematic literature review (SLR)?” As the founder of Oncoscope-AI, a platform focused on transforming how we track and synthesize oncology evidence, my answer is simple: No — not even close. But there’s a much more important follow-up: AI can fundamentally transform how SLRs are built, maintained, and used — if we apply it the right way. Why SLRs Are Still the Gold Standard Systematic literature reviews are foundational tools in evidence-based medicine. They are methodologically rigorous, reproducible, and transparent — all critical features when informing high-stakes decisions in drug development, health technology assessments (HTAs), clinical guidelines, and reimbursement. A well-conducted SLR isn’t just a literature search. It’s a structured, protocol-driven process governed by frameworks like PRISMA, Cochrane, or GRADE. It includes clear inclusion/exclusion criteria, detailed documentation of search strategies, dual reviewer consensus, and often a meta-analysis. In short: SLRs build trust — because the process is as important as the outcome. Where AI Chatbots Fall Short While chatbots like ChatGPT, OpenEvidence, Perplexity, or other LLM-based tools can sound authoritative and answer questions quickly, they have significant limitations when it comes to replacing SLRs. These characteristics make them fundamentally incompatible with the standards required in clinical research, regulatory decision-making, or payer engagement. What AI Can Do for Evidence Synthesis While chatbots can’t replace SLRs, AI can absolutely enhance the way SLRs are performed, maintained, and consumed. This is the space we are focused on at Oncoscope-AI. Here’s how: 1. Real-Time Monitoring of New EvidenceAI can continuously scan new publications, clinical trial databases, regulatory announcements, and guideline updates — surfacing relevant changes in near real-time. 2. Efficient Screening and CategorizationAI can rapidly identify and classify articles based on criteria defined in a protocol, dramatically reducing the manual burden on human reviewers. At Oncoscope, we trained and validated AI programs to deliver over 99% accuracy for this task – with details on rejections well beyond what humans are used to provide. 3. Smarter Data ExtractionWhile AI can’t yet extract all types of data reliably, there are many variables where it already performs as well as — or even better than — humans. At Oncoscope, we carefully evaluate each type of data we need to extract, and we implement AI selectively and responsibly. The rule of thumb we follow is: if you can standardize it, you can automate it. Structured variables can often be automated — freeing our experts to focus on the more complex and nuanced interpretation. 4. Version Control and Living UpdatesTraditional SLRs are static snapshots. At Oncoscope, we’re enabling “Living SLRs” — always current, always linked to their sources, and always grounded in rigorous methods. 5. Actionable Summaries Without Compromising RigorUsing AI for extraction and summarization doesn’t mean cutting corners. It means scaling expertise, speeding updates, and freeing time for deeper interpretation. Our Vision at Oncoscope-AI We are not building another chatbot. We are building an evidence engine that understands how oncology evolves — one that stays current without sacrificing standards. Our platform continuously tracks: All of this is structured, sourced, and updated in real time — providing oncologists and other healthcare professionals with a living map of the oncology evidence landscape. In short, we’re bringing the structure of an SLR and the speed of AI together — without compromising either. Final Thoughts So, can an AI chatbot replace a systematic literature review? No — and it shouldn’t. But AI, when designed for evidence integrity and real-world utility, can transform what an SLR can become. This transformation is no longer hypothetical. It’s happening now — and we’re proud to be leading it at Oncoscope-AI. Interested in how a Living SLR can support your work in oncology or market access? Let’s connect.📩 info@oncoscope-ai.com | LinkedIn Anna Forsythe is the Founder and President of Oncoscope-AI, the first platform to bring together real-time oncology treatment data, clinical guidelines, research publications, and regulatory approvals — all in one place, just like Expedia for cancer care. Available free to oncology professionals worldwide, Oncoscope-AI is redefining how cancer care information is accessed and applied. A clinically trained Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD), Anna also holds a Master’s in Health Economics and Policy from the University of Birmingham (UK) and an MBA from Columbia University. She previously co-founded Purple Squirrel Economics (acquired by Cytel in 2020) and led Global Value and Access at Eisai Pharmaceuticals, following earlier roles at Novartis and Bayer in clinical research and health economics.