Could AI Transform Prostate Cancer Treatment?
By Dr. David Samadi
An increasing number of articles suggest that AI could soon play a transformative role in helping doctors and healthcare professionals enhance cancer detection and treatment, now including prostate cancer.
A recent study suggests that artificial intelligence (AI) might revolutionize how doctors detect and treat the most aggressive prostate cancers. This cutting-edge technology has shown promise in accurately identifying high-risk tumors, potentially helping men with prostate cancer receive more targeted and effective care.
In the study, an AI program analyzed MRI scans from over 700 patients and accurately identified about 85% of the most aggressive prostate tumors. The AI pinpointed these tumors and offered valuable insights into which tumors were most likely to withstand treatment and spread to other parts of the body.
For men undergoing radiation therapy, the AI’s tumor size estimates provided a more precise prediction of cancer’s likelihood to spread than traditional risk assessments, according to the research team.
“AI-determined tumor volume has the potential to advance precision medicine for prostate cancer patients by helping us understand the aggressiveness of a patient’s cancer,” said Dr. David Yang, a lead researcher and radiation oncologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “With better risk assessment, we can recommend the most effective treatment path.”
This AI model was trained using MRI images from 732 patients undergoing prostate cancer treatment, learning to locate and measure the most aggressive tumors. Researchers found that patients with larger tumors, as measured by AI, faced a greater risk of cancer recurrence or spread—whether they received surgery or radiation.
“The AI measurement itself offers added information on patient outcomes,” explained Dr. Martin King, senior researcher and radiation oncologist. “For patients, this can translate into a clearer understanding of their prognosis, including the likelihood of cure or cancer recurrence.”
Beyond assessing risk, AI could also guide radiation oncologists in providing more targeted treatments by accurately outlining tumor boundaries. This faster, data-driven approach might allow patients to begin treatment sooner, potentially reducing the wait times currently associated with traditional risk assessments.
While the results are promising, researchers acknowledge that more testing is essential to ensure the AI model’s accuracy and generalizability across diverse patient populations. “We want to validate our findings using data from other institutions to confirm that this approach can benefit all prostate cancer patients,” Dr. Yang noted.
The findings were published on Oct. 29 in the journal Radiology, sparking interest in AI’s role in enhancing precision medicine for prostate cancer care.
Overall, AI has the power to transform healthcare—improving patient care, enhancing outcomes, and making certain procedures such as surgeries more efficient. However, challenges like data privacy, accuracy in diagnosis, and ethical concerns need to be thoughtfully addressed along the way.
As we explore AI’s role in healthcare, finding the right balance between technology and human expertise will be essential. This balanced approach will allow us to use AI responsibly and maximize its benefits for patients and providers alike.
Dr. David Samadi is the Director of Men’s Health and Urologic Oncology at St. Francis Hospital in Long Island. He’s a renowned and highly successful board certified Urologic Oncologist Expert and Robotic Surgeon in New York City, regarded as one of the leading prostate surgeons in the U.S., with a vast expertise in prostate cancer treatment and Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Prostatectomy. Dr. Samadi is a medical contributor to NewsMax TV and is also the author of two books, Prostate Cancer Now What? A Practical Guide to Diagnosis, Treatment, and Recovery and The Ultimate MANual, Dr. Samadi’s Guide to Men’s Health and Wellness, available online both on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Visit Dr. Samadi’s websites at robotic oncolo gy and prostate cancer 911.