Artificial intelligence (AI) is now outperforming doctors in detecting prostate cancer, a common cancer in men, according to a UCLA study. AI tool Unfold AI identified prostate cancer with 84% accuracy, compared to 67% for doctors. The technology, which has been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, uses an AI algorithm to visualize the likelihood of cancer based on various clinical data.
The study involved a team of seven urologists and three radiologists who analyzed 50 cases where tumors had been removed, looking for signs of residual cancer. Months later, AI performed the same analysis. The “negative margin rate,” indicating the absence of cancer cells around the removed tissue, was 45 times higher in cases detected by AI, significantly reducing the risk of leaving cancer behind.
Dr. Ali Kasraeian, a urologist at Kasraeian Urology in Jacksonville, Florida, is using this AI technology for patient consultations on prostate cancer management.
“The AI takes the information we currently have about a patient’s prostate cancer — like their pathology, imaging and biopsy results — and creates a 3D cancer estimation map,” he told Fox News Digital via email.
He added that the results generated by AI help decide whether to opt for focal therapy or more radical treatments such as radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy. This ensures optimal cancer cure, personalization of care and alignment with patients’ quality of life goals.
The UCLA research team believes this AI could lead to more accurate diagnoses and targeted treatments, potentially reducing the need for total gland removal and its associated side effects like incontinence and impotence.
Joshua Trachenberg, a UCLA neurobiology professor and prostate cancer patient, shared his experience. When diagnosed with a slow-growing tumor, he resisted surgical removal of the gland and explored alternatives.
“I reached out to a team at UCLA, where I am also a faculty member, that was studying alternative treatments to total gland removal,” Trachenberg, 56, told Fox News Digital via email.
The team was testing an approach that used ultrasound, guided by MRI, to heat and destroy cancerous tissue without damaging the rest of the gland. Imaging scans confirmed that the patient was a candidate for this experimental therapy.
“The 3D map created by Unfold AI allowed this team to identify precise margins, target the cancerous area and avoid any functional structures in the gland,” Trachenberg said. “It was really able to visualize my cancer and give me a better understanding of my case.”
Trachenberg is now cancer-free and has avoided radical prostatectomy.
“Many men are afraid of treatment because of the risks associated with removing glands, and Unfold AI enables therapies that don’t put men through the meat grinder,” he said.
He expressed hope for the future of prostate cancer treatment and recommended exploring all options, including AI technologies, to avoid the serious side effects of radical prostatectomy.
However, Dr. Harvey Castro, a board-certified emergency physician and national speaker on AI, warned of the potential risks associated with the technology.
“The accuracy of AI is highly dependent on the quality of the data it is trained on,” he told Fox News Digital. “Poor quality data can lead to inaccurate diagnoses.”
Castro stressed the importance of not becoming too reliant on AI.
“AI is a powerful tool, but it must complement, not replace, the clinical judgment of healthcare professionals,” he said. “AI is our new ally in diagnostics. But like any tool, it works best in the hands of a human.”
He also discussed the need for strict data protection measures to preserve patient trust and confidentiality when using AI technology. In addition, he highlighted that the cost of AI technologies could be a significant barrier.
“I hope this study will encourage us and future payers to make these innovations more accessible to urologists and, most importantly, our patients,” Kasraeian said.
This new AI tool represents a significant advance in prostate cancer detection and treatment, potentially offering more accurate diagnoses and personalized treatments. However, careful consideration of data quality, reliability, privacy, and cost are essential for the integration of this technology into widespread medical practice.
The study involved a team of seven urologists and three radiologists who analyzed 50 cases where tumors had been removed, looking for signs of residual cancer. Months later, AI performed the same analysis. The “negative margin rate,” indicating the absence of cancer cells around the removed tissue, was 45 times higher in cases detected by AI, significantly reducing the risk of leaving cancer behind.
Dr. Ali Kasraeian, a urologist at Kasraeian Urology in Jacksonville, Florida, is using this AI technology for patient consultations on prostate cancer management.
“The AI takes the information we currently have about a patient’s prostate cancer — like their pathology, imaging and biopsy results — and creates a 3D cancer estimation map,” he told Fox News Digital via email.
He added that the results generated by AI help decide whether to opt for focal therapy or more radical treatments such as radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy. This ensures optimal cancer cure, personalization of care and alignment with patients’ quality of life goals.
The UCLA research team believes this AI could lead to more accurate diagnoses and targeted treatments, potentially reducing the need for total gland removal and its associated side effects like incontinence and impotence.
Joshua Trachenberg, a UCLA neurobiology professor and prostate cancer patient, shared his experience. When diagnosed with a slow-growing tumor, he resisted surgical removal of the gland and explored alternatives.
“I reached out to a team at UCLA, where I am also a faculty member, that was studying alternative treatments to total gland removal,” Trachenberg, 56, told Fox News Digital via email.
The team was testing an approach that used ultrasound, guided by MRI, to heat and destroy cancerous tissue without damaging the rest of the gland. Imaging scans confirmed that the patient was a candidate for this experimental therapy.
“The 3D map created by Unfold AI allowed this team to identify precise margins, target the cancerous area and avoid any functional structures in the gland,” Trachenberg said. “It was really able to visualize my cancer and give me a better understanding of my case.”
Trachenberg is now cancer-free and has avoided radical prostatectomy.
“Many men are afraid of treatment because of the risks associated with removing glands, and Unfold AI enables therapies that don’t put men through the meat grinder,” he said.
He expressed hope for the future of prostate cancer treatment and recommended exploring all options, including AI technologies, to avoid the serious side effects of radical prostatectomy.
However, Dr. Harvey Castro, a board-certified emergency physician and national speaker on AI, warned of the potential risks associated with the technology.
“The accuracy of AI is highly dependent on the quality of the data it is trained on,” he told Fox News Digital. “Poor quality data can lead to inaccurate diagnoses.”
Castro stressed the importance of not becoming too reliant on AI.
“AI is a powerful tool, but it must complement, not replace, the clinical judgment of healthcare professionals,” he said. “AI is our new ally in diagnostics. But like any tool, it works best in the hands of a human.”
He also discussed the need for strict data protection measures to preserve patient trust and confidentiality when using AI technology. In addition, he highlighted that the cost of AI technologies could be a significant barrier.
“I hope this study will encourage us and future payers to make these innovations more accessible to urologists and, most importantly, our patients,” Kasraeian said.
This new AI tool represents a significant advance in prostate cancer detection and treatment, potentially offering more accurate diagnoses and personalized treatments. However, careful consideration of data quality, reliability, privacy, and cost are essential for the integration of this technology into widespread medical practice.
