UCLA Study: AI Detects Cancer 17% More Accurately Than Doctors

The research found that an AI tool identified prostate cancer with 84% accuracy, compared to 67% accuracy for physicians.

Jean Gilles
Jean Gilles 3 Min Read
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Artificial intelligence (AI) is making big changes in how doctors find and treat prostate cancer. A recent study, reported by the New York Post, showed that a new AI tool, Unfold AI, can detect prostate cancer more accurately than doctors. This tool was developed by Avenda Health in California.

Dr. Ali Kasraeian, a urologist in Jacksonville, Florida, uses Unfold AI with his patients. He says, “The results we get from Unfold AI tell us if a patient should get focal therapy or more radical treatments like prostate surgery or radiation. This helps us improve their cancer treatment and quality of life.”

Unfold AI looks at patient data like pathology, imaging, and biopsy results to make a 3D map of the cancer. This map helps doctors see exactly where the cancer is and plan the best treatment. This can reduce the need for removing the whole prostate gland, which often causes side effects like incontinence and impotence.

Joshua Trachenberg, a professor at UCLA, had a slow-growing tumor on his prostate. Instead of having his prostate removed, he chose to try an experimental therapy at UCLA. This therapy uses MRI-guided ultrasound to heat and destroy cancer cells without harming the rest of the gland. The 3D map from Unfold AI helped doctors target the cancer precisely.

After the treatment, Trachenberg is now cancer-free and avoided the risks of major surgery. He believes AI technology like Unfold AI can help many men. “Unfold AI allows treatments that don’t cause serious side effects,” he said.

Dr. Harvey Castro, an emergency medicine doctor and AI expert, says AI depends on good data to be accurate. He warns that doctors should not rely only on AI but use it as a helpful tool. “AI is our new diagnostic ally, but it works best with human expertise,” he said.

AI is showing great promise in prostate cancer treatment. It helps doctors make better diagnoses and plan less invasive treatments. For prostate cancer patients, AI technologies like Unfold AI could offer better treatment options.

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