A study from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) found that artificial intelligence (AI) is outperforming doctors in detecting prostate cancer, a cancer that is common in men. The AI tool “Unfold AI” identified prostate cancer with 84% accuracy, compared with doctors’ 67% accuracy. The technology, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, uses AI algorithms 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 in which tumors had been removed to look for signs of residual cancer. A few months later, the AI performed the same analysis. The “negative margin rate,” which refers to the absence of cancer cells around the removed tissue, was 45 times higher in the cases detected by the AI, significantly reducing the risk of residual cancer.
Dr. Ali Kasraeian, a urologist at Kasraeian Urology in Jacksonville, Florida, is using this AI technology to consult with patients about managing their prostate cancer.
“The AI takes the information we currently have about a patient’s prostate cancer, including pathology, imaging and biopsy results, and creates a 3D estimated cancer map,” he told Fox News Digital in an email.
He added that AI-generated results can help decide whether to opt for localized therapy or more definitive treatments such as radical prostatectomy and radiation therapy, ensuring optimal cancer treatment, personalizing care and aligning with patients’ quality of life goals.
The UCLA team believes that this AI could enable more accurate diagnoses and targeted treatment, potentially reducing the need for full removal of the gland and its associated side effects, such as incontinence and impotence.
Dr. Joshua Truckenberg, a professor of neurobiology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and a prostate cancer patient, shared his story: When he was diagnosed with a slowly progressing tumor, he refused surgical removal of his prostate and sought alternatives.
“I have been in contact with a team at UCLA, where I am also a faculty member, to explore alternatives to a complete gland removal,” Truckenberg, 56, told Fox News Digital in an email.
The team was testing a technique that uses MRI-guided ultrasound to heat and destroy cancerous tissue without harming the rest of the gland, and imaging scans confirmed that he was a candidate for the experimental treatment.
“The 3D map created by Unfold AI enabled the team to pinpoint the exact borders, target the cancerous area, and avoid the functional structures of the gland,” said Trachenberg. “This map really helped me visualize my cancer and gave me a deeper understanding of my case.”
Trachenberg is now cancer-free and has avoided radical prostate removal surgery.
“Many men are afraid of the treatment because of the risks associated with removing the glands. Unfold AI makes it possible to have a treatment that doesn’t put men through the meat grinder,” he said.
He expressed hope for the future of prostate cancer treatment and recommended considering all options, including AI technologies, to avoid the serious side effects of radical prostatectomy.
But Dr. Harvey Castro, a board-certified emergency physician and national speaker on AI, warned of potential risks associated with the technology.
“The accuracy of AI depends heavily on the quality of the data it is trained on,” he told Fox News Digital. “Poor quality data can lead to inaccurate diagnoses.”
Castro emphasized the importance of not relying too heavily on AI.
“AI is a powerful tool, but it must complement, not replace, the clinical judgement of medical professionals,” he said. “AI is our new diagnostic ally, but like any tool, AI works best in human hands.”
He also noted that strict data protection measures are necessary to maintain patient trust and confidentiality when using AI technology, and that the cost of AI technology could be a major barrier.
“We hope this study will encourage us and future payers to make these innovations more accessible to urologists and, most importantly, patients,” Kasreian said.
This new AI tool has the potential to provide significant advances in prostate cancer detection and treatment, providing more accurate diagnoses and personalized treatment, but careful consideration of data quality, reliability, privacy, and cost is essential for this technology to be adopted in broader clinical practice.
The study involved a team of seven urologists and three radiologists who analyzed 50 cases in which tumors had been removed to look for signs of residual cancer. A few months later, the AI performed the same analysis. The “negative margin rate,” which refers to the absence of cancer cells around the removed tissue, was 45 times higher in the cases detected by the AI, significantly reducing the risk of residual cancer.
Dr. Ali Kasraeian, a urologist at Kasraeian Urology in Jacksonville, Florida, is using this AI technology to consult with patients about managing their prostate cancer.
“The AI takes the information we currently have about a patient’s prostate cancer, including pathology, imaging and biopsy results, and creates a 3D estimated cancer map,” he told Fox News Digital in an email.
He added that AI-generated results can help decide whether to opt for localized therapy or more definitive treatments such as radical prostatectomy and radiation therapy, ensuring optimal cancer treatment, personalizing care and aligning with patients’ quality of life goals.
The UCLA team believes that this AI could enable more accurate diagnoses and targeted treatment, potentially reducing the need for full removal of the gland and its associated side effects, such as incontinence and impotence.
Dr. Joshua Truckenberg, a professor of neurobiology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and a prostate cancer patient, shared his story: When he was diagnosed with a slowly progressing tumor, he refused surgical removal of his prostate and sought alternatives.
“I have been in contact with a team at UCLA, where I am also a faculty member, to explore alternatives to a complete gland removal,” Truckenberg, 56, told Fox News Digital in an email.
The team was testing a technique that uses MRI-guided ultrasound to heat and destroy cancerous tissue without harming the rest of the gland, and imaging scans confirmed that he was a candidate for the experimental treatment.
“The 3D map created by Unfold AI enabled the team to pinpoint the exact borders, target the cancerous area, and avoid the functional structures of the gland,” said Trachenberg. “This map really helped me visualize my cancer and gave me a deeper understanding of my case.”
Trachenberg is now cancer-free and has avoided radical prostate removal surgery.
“Many men are afraid of the treatment because of the risks associated with removing the glands. Unfold AI makes it possible to have a treatment that doesn’t put men through the meat grinder,” he said.
He expressed hope for the future of prostate cancer treatment and recommended considering all options, including AI technologies, to avoid the serious side effects of radical prostatectomy.
But Dr. Harvey Castro, a board-certified emergency physician and national speaker on AI, warned of potential risks associated with the technology.
“The accuracy of AI depends heavily on the quality of the data it is trained on,” he told Fox News Digital. “Poor quality data can lead to inaccurate diagnoses.”
Castro emphasized the importance of not relying too heavily on AI.
“AI is a powerful tool, but it must complement, not replace, the clinical judgement of medical professionals,” he said. “AI is our new diagnostic ally, but like any tool, AI works best in human hands.”
He also noted that strict data protection measures are necessary to maintain patient trust and confidentiality when using AI technology, and that the cost of AI technology could be a major barrier.
“We hope this study will encourage us and future payers to make these innovations more accessible to urologists and, most importantly, patients,” Kasreian said.
This new AI tool has the potential to provide significant advances in prostate cancer detection and treatment, providing more accurate diagnoses and personalized treatment, but careful consideration of data quality, reliability, privacy, and cost is essential for this technology to be adopted in broader clinical practice.
