Scientists have developed a groundbreaking artificial intelligence (AI) test that can identify men with high-risk prostate cancer who will benefit most from the drug abiraterone, which is known to nearly halve the risk of death. Abiraterone has been a transformative treatment in prostate cancer care but is often restricted to advanced stages of the disease in some countries. This new AI tool, created by researchers from the US, UK, and Switzerland, aims to broaden access by accurately identifying patients who are likely to respond to the drug before their cancer progresses.
The AI algorithm analyzes routine pathology slides, detecting subtle features in tumor images that elude human observation. Tests on biopsy samples from over 1,000 men revealed that about 25% could significantly benefit from adding abiraterone to standard hormone therapy, nearly halving their mortality risk.
Professor Gert Attard, a co-leader of the study, highlighted the potential of AI in tailoring treatments and reducing overtreatment, offering personalized therapies that can enhance survival rates. Abiraterone functions by inhibiting testosterone production throughout the body, including within tumors, thereby stymieing cancer growth.
Professor Nick James, another co-lead, stressed the study’s policy implications, advocating for a reconsideration of funding for abiraterone for high-risk non-metastatic patients by health systems like NHS England. The trial results were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting 2025.
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