Experts Urge NHS to Fund Life-Saving Prostate Cancer Treatment

Strategic Insights -

British scientists have used artificial intelligence (AI) to identify which men with high-risk prostate cancer could most benefit from a hormone treatment that is currently denied by the NHS in England. The study found that one in four men could have their risk of death halved if given the treatment, while the rest could be spared the side effects. The treatment, abiraterone, is routinely offered to men in Scotland and Wales with newly diagnosed high-risk prostate cancer, but the NHS refuses to fund it in England despite it costing just £2.75 a day.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study, led by The Institute of Cancer Research and University College London, used AI to identify men with high-risk prostate cancer who could most benefit from abiraterone, a hormone treatment that halved the risk of death in half of the participants.
  • The treatment is currently denied to thousands of men in England due to NHS funding restrictions, despite it being available in Scotland and Wales at a cost of £2.75 a day.
  • Abiraterone works by inhibiting the production of testosterone in all tissues, including the tumor, and has been found to have "spectacular results" for many men.
  • Prostate cancer is a leading cause of death among men in the UK, and the study's findings could lead to a significant reduction in mortality rates if the treatment is made available to those who need it.
  • Prof Nick James, professor of prostate and bladder cancer research at ICR, urged NHS England to review the funding of the drug, saying that it was a "postcode lottery" for men to access the life-extending treatment.
  • The study received funding from Artera Inc, UK MRC, and Prostate Cancer UK, and the results were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting.
  • The new AI-powered testing method allows for a more precise identification of men who would benefit from the treatment, reducing the risk of side effects and improving outcomes.

Statistics:

  • 8,400 men a year are denied access to abiraterone in England due to NHS funding restrictions.
  • The treatment costs £2.75 a day, making it a cost-effective option for the NHS.
  • The study found that one in four men with high-risk prostate cancer could have their risk of death halved with abiraterone, while the rest could be spared the treatment and its side effects.
  • The risk of death after five years decreased from 17% to 9% in men given abiraterone who had aggressive disease fueled by androgens.
  • The study used images of tumor samples from over 1,000 men with prostate cancer, with the AI-powered testing method identifying features invisible to the human eye.

Sources:

  • The Institute of Cancer Research, London
  • University College London (UCL)
  • Artera Inc
  • UK MRC
  • Prostate Cancer UK
  • American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting
  • The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust