ESMO Issues First Guidelines for Safe Use of AI Language Models in Oncology

The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) has published its first guidance for the safe use of artificial intelligence language models in oncology, announced in a press release. The framework, called ELCAP (Guidance on the Use of Large Language Models in Clinical Practice), was introduced at the ESMO Congress in Berlin and published in the Annals of Oncology.

ELCAP establishes standards for integrating large language models into cancer care while ensuring patient safety and clinical oversight. It categorizes AI applications into three groups: patient-facing tools like chatbots that must operate under supervision, clinician-facing tools that require validation and accountability, and background systems used in hospital infrastructure that demand institutional monitoring.

ESMO stated that the guidance aims to protect patient data, support clinicians, and promote trustworthy AI use in clinical environments. With over 45,000 oncology professionals in its network, the organization described ELCAP as a step toward making AI a reliable and safe component of oncology practice.