AI-Driven Test Could End "Postcode Lottery" for Prostate Cancer Treatment

Strategic Insights -

Researchers say that an AI-powered test could help doctors determine which patients with advanced prostate cancer will benefit most from a life-extending treatment that is currently not approved for use in England. The study, led by The Institute of Cancer Research, London, and University College London (UCL), used images of tumour samples from over 1,000 men to develop a test that can identify which patients are likely to respond to the treatment. The test has already shown promising results, reducing the risk of death among biomarker-positive patients from 17% to 9%.

Key Takeaways:

  • The AI-powered test uses images of tumour samples to identify which patients are likely to respond to the life-extending treatment, abiraterone.
  • The study found that abiraterone reduced the risk of death among biomarker-positive patients from 17% to 9%.
  • In biomarker-negative patients, the drug cut death risk from 7% to 4%, suggesting that these men may benefit from standard therapy.
  • The test has the potential to end the "postcode lottery" for access to abiraterone, as it is currently not approved for use in England but is available in Scotland and Wales.
  • The treatment is a type of hormone therapy that works by blocking the production of testosterone, the hormone that fuels the growth of prostate cancer.
  • Abiraterone can have "spectacular" results, but it also comes with side effects, including high blood pressure, liver abnormalities, and an increased risk of diabetes and heart attacks.

Statistics:

  • The study used images of tumour samples from over 1,000 men to develop the AI-powered test.
  • Abiraterone reduced the risk of death among biomarker-positive patients from 17% to 9%.
  • In biomarker-negative patients, the drug cut death risk from 7% to 4%.
  • The treatment can cost as little as £77 per pack, compared to thousands of pounds for new drugs.
  • Previous research has shown that preventing cancer relapses for these men would save more money than the drug costs to purchase.

Sources:

  • The Institute of Cancer Research, London
  • University College London (UCL)
  • American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
  • Prostate Cancer UK