A new study from UCLA, published in The Journal of Urology, found that artificial intelligence (AI) can significantly enhance the accuracy of prostate cancer diagnosis.
The study involved ten physicians, including urologists and radiologists, who assessed 50 prostate cancer cases twice – first manually and then again after a four-week interval using Avenda Health’s AI-powered cancer mapping tool “Unfold AI”.
The UCLA researchers found that when physicians used the AI tool, they identified prostate cancer with 84% accuracy, compared to 67% accuracy without the AI.
The AI technology also dramatically reduced the risk of underestimating cancer extent. Traditional methods used by doctors often missed the full extent of prostate cancer, correctly identifying all cancer cells only 1.6% of the time. In contrast, the AI-assisted methods were far more accurate, successfully identifying all cancer cells 72.8% of the time.
Dr. Wayne Brisbane of UCLA emphasized AI’s ability to surpass human capabilities, leading to better patient outcomes through more accurate cancer identification and tailored treatment strategies.
“This study is important because it shows the ability of AI to not only replicate expert physicians, but to go beyond human ability,” said Dr. Brisbane. “By increasing the accuracy of cancer identification in the prostate, more precise and effective treatment methods can be prescribed for patients.”
What the Study Found
- Overall Accuracy: The AI tool correctly identified prostate cancer 84.7% of the time. In comparison, doctors using standard methods got it right 67.2% of the time, and hemigland contouring methodologies 75.9% of the time.
- Cancer-Free Margins: The AI ensured that all cancerous tissue was identified 72.8% of the time, whereas traditional methods only managed this 1.6% of the time.
“We saw the use of AI assistance made doctors both more accurate and more consistent, meaning doctors tended to agree more when using AI assistance,” said Shyam Natarajan, senior author of the study and CEO of Avenda Health.
What This Could Mean for Patients
AI technology like Unfold AI could make a big difference in how prostate cancer is treated. It could help doctors:
- Target Treatment: More accurately pinpoint cancerous tissue, so treatments like surgery or radiation can be more effective and less invasive.
- Preserve Quality of Life: Reduce side effects by avoiding unnecessary damage to healthy tissue.
- Make Better Decisions: Provide more reliable data for treatment planning, leading to more personalized and effective care.
“Overall, the use of AI in cancer treatment could lead to more effective and personalized care for patients, with treatments that are better tailored to their individual needs and more successful in fighting the disease,” said Brisbane.
References:
- Mota, S. M., Priester, A., Shubert, J., Bong, J., Sayre, J., Berry-Pusey, B., … Natarajan, S. (2024). Artificial Intelligence Improves the Ability of Physicians to Identify Prostate Cancer Extent. Journal of Urology, 212(1), 52–62. https://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000003960
- “New Study proves AI enhances physicians’ ability to identify extent of prostate cancer with 84 percent accuracy”. PR Newswire.
- “AI model may yield better outcomes for prostate cancer”. UCLA Health
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