THE APPLIED DATA SCIENCE WORKSHOP: Urinary Biomarkers Based Pancreatic Cancer Classification and Prediction

The Applied Data Science Workshop on “Urinary Biomarkers-Based Pancreatic Cancer Classification and Prediction Using Machine Learning with Python GUI” embarks on a comprehensive journey, commencing with an in-depth exploration of the dataset. During this initial phase, the structure and size of the dataset are thoroughly examined, and the various features it contains are meticulously studied. The principal objective is to understand the relationship between these features and the target variable, which, in this case, is the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. The distribution of each feature is analyzed, and potential patterns, trends, or outliers that could significantly impact the model’s performance are identified.

To ensure the data is in optimal condition for model training, preprocessing steps are undertaken. This involves handling missing values through imputation techniques, such as mean, median, or interpolation, depending on the nature of the data. Additionally, feature engineering is performed to derive new features or transform existing ones, with the aim of enhancing the model’s predictive power. In preparation for model building, the dataset is split into training and testing sets. This division is crucial to assess the models’ generalization performance on unseen data accurately. To maintain a balanced representation of classes in both sets, stratified sampling is employed, mitigating potential biases in the model evaluation process.

The workshop explores an array of machine learning classifiers suitable for pancreatic cancer classification, such as Logistic Regression, K-Nearest Neighbors, Decision Trees, Random Forests, Gradient Boosting, Naive Bayes, Adaboost, Extreme Gradient Boosting, Light Gradient Boosting, Naïve Bayes, and Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP). For each classifier, three different preprocessing techniques are applied to investigate their impact on model performance: raw (unprocessed data), normalization (scaling data to a similar range), and standardization (scaling data to have zero mean and unit variance).

To optimize the classifiers’ hyperparameters and boost their predictive capabilities, GridSearchCV, a technique for hyperparameter tuning, is employed. GridSearchCV conducts an exhaustive search over a specified hyperparameter grid, evaluating different combinations to identify the optimal settings for each model and preprocessing technique.

During the model evaluation phase, multiple performance metrics are utilized to gauge the efficacy of the classifiers. Commonly used metrics include accuracy, recall, precision, and F1-score. By comprehensively assessing these metrics, the strengths and weaknesses of each model are revealed, enabling a deeper understanding of their performance across different classes of pancreatic cancer. Classification reports are generated to present a detailed breakdown of the models’ performance, including precision, recall, F1-score, and support for each class. These reports serve as valuable tools for interpreting model outputs and identifying areas for potential improvement.

The workshop highlights the significance of graphical user interfaces (GUIs) in facilitating user interactions with machine learning models. By integrating PyQt, a powerful GUI development library for Python, participants create a user-friendly interface that enables users to interact with the models effortlessly. The GUI provides options to select different preprocessing techniques, visualize model outputs such as confusion matrices and decision boundaries, and gain insights into the models’ classification capabilities. One of the primary advantages of the graphical user interface is its ability to offer users a seamless and intuitive experience in predicting and classifying pancreatic cancer based on urinary biomarkers.