Researchers at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have been awarded a five-year, $3 million grant from the National Cancer Institute. The grant is aimed at developing artificial intelligence (AI) to detect and predict aggressive prostate cancer. This initiative is crucial in helping to avoid unnecessary treatments and their associated negative side effects.
Key aspects of the project include:
Addressing Overdiagnosis and Overtreatment: Prostate cancer is a common and serious health issue for men. Current screening and risk assessment methods often lead to overdiagnosis and overtreatment. Approximately 90% of people diagnosed with prostate cancer receive treatment, though up to 60% could be candidates for active surveillance.
Multidisciplinary Team and Collaboration: The project is led by Corey Arnold, PhD, with a team including Paul Boutros, PhD, MBA; Leonard Marks, MD; Anthony Sisk, DO; and Steven Raman, MD. They will collaborate with investigators at Washington University in St. Louis.
Integrating Various Data Sources: The team plans to integrate magnetic resonance imaging, digital histology images, genetic information, and biomarkers into a computational model. This model aims to more precisely capture a patient’s current cancer state and forecast outcomes.
Goal of the AI Development: The AI developed through this project is expected to provide more accurate information about the nature of the cancer. It aims to help doctors distinguish between aggressive and less threatening forms of prostate cancer, leading to more personalized and targeted treatment plans.
Reducing Unnecessary Interventions: By accurately identifying the nature and aggressiveness of prostate cancer, the project aims to reduce unnecessary interventions. This approach is expected to have a positive impact on patients’ quality of life.
The project complements ongoing prostate cancer-focused grants in radiology led by faculty members Kyung Sung and Holden Wu at UCLA. This initiative represents a significant step towards improving prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment, leveraging AI to enhance patient care and outcomes.