AI could spare thousands of men with prostate cancer unnecessary treatment

Men with prostate cancer which has an intermediate risk of spreading when they receive radiotherapy treatment are currently offered hormone therapy for between six months and three years at the same time.

However, AI, which searches for biological patterns in the cancer cells taken from biopsies at the point of diagnosis, can identify those who would not benefit from hormone therapy, saving them from unnecessary and potentially unpleasant side effects.

It is suggested that 60 per cent of those currently prescribed hormone therapy should not be given it and radiotherapy alone is enough to cure these men.

Dr Matthew Hobbs, director of research for Prostate Cancer UK, said “This tool could make a huge difference for men.  We know that the side effects that come with hormone therapy – a treatment that completely suppresses testosterone – are varied, extremely difficult to live with, and can last a very long time even after treatment finishes.

“Men with prostate cancer regularly tell us about the extremely negative impact this treatment has on their quality of life.  For men who need it, hormone therapy is a life-saving treatment, and the trade-off is worth it, but this tool tells us that currently many thousands of men are suffering those side effects needlessly.

“Implementing this tool across the NHS could significantly reduce the harm that prostate cancer causes.

“The results we have seen are extraordinarily impressive and, being based on multiple high-quality academic trials with long follow-up, are also robust and believable.

“We know that the company is keen to bring this tool to the NHS and hope that individual NHS trusts, as well as system-wide decision makers will work with them to remove any barriers and deliver this benefit for men as quickly as possible.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (jacquelinevance@chadlaw.co.uk), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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