A new study is exploring whether artificial intelligence (AI) can help doctors make more accurate decisions in treating prostate cancer.
Although prostate cancer diagnosis has become safer and more accurate, it can still be difficult for doctors to determine how aggressive a patient's tumor is. This sometimes leads to unnecessary surgery or radiotherapy, when patients could have been better off with just monitoring.
The Vanguard Path
The study, known as Vanguard Path, is led by researchers at the University of Oxford and is funded with £1.9 million by the charity Prostate Cancer UK.
Experts will initially test the technology, called the ArteraAI Prostate Biopsy Assay, on biopsy samples from patients who have already been diagnosed and treated, with at least five years of post-treatment data. The goal is to compare the AI's predictions with what actually happened to patients.
The technology will then be tested in real clinics, focusing on cases where doctors find it difficult to decide on the best treatment. Three participating NHS hospitals are: North Bristol NHS Trust, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
What is expected from AI?
Prof. Clare Verrill, leader of the study, said this experiment “will pave the way for the use of advanced AI technologies in the NHS.”
“This will enable more detailed and accurate information for patients, who can make more informed decisions with their medical team — whether they can be safely monitored or if they need treatment, and how to guide those decisions.”
Dr. Matthew Hobbs, research director at Prostate Cancer UK, added:
“AI has the potential to significantly improve prostate cancer care and ensure that each patient receives the most accurate and best plan for their specific tumor. This project by Prof. Verrill and her team is very important because it tests the technology in real-world conditions, providing evidence for widespread use in the NHS.”
The burden of prostate cancer in the UK
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, and around one in eight men will develop it in their lifetime. According to the National Prostate Cancer Audit, 58,218 men in England were diagnosed with this type of cancer in 2024, up from 53,462 the year before.
Andre Esteva, CEO and co-founder of Artera, said:
“We developed the ArteraAI Prostate Biopsy Assay to improve patients’ lives and have gathered years of evidence of its impact. We hope to use this tool to personalize prostate cancer care for men in the UK.”
News of this study comes after reports that the NHS will use AI to interpret MRI scans of patients with suspected prostate cancer, speeding up same-day diagnosis and biopsy for high-risk cases.
According to statistics, around 12,000 men die each year from prostate cancer in the UK, and media organisations have launched campaigns to reduce these deaths through national screening programmes. /GazetaExpress/
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