Featured Research Project
Using AI to improve the way we diagnose and treat prostate cancer
Analysing how aggressive a man’s prostate cancer might be, or how likely it is to spread beyond the prostate to other parts of the body, remains complex and difficult.
But the latest innovations in artificial intelligence (AI) carry the promise of a better future for men. This technology could help us understand the characteristics of each man’s cancer at a much earlier stage, enabling clinicians to predict its behaviour with even greater accuracy. Improving the precision of diagnosis using AI could lead to better outcomes for men, helping to identify the optimal treatment and reducing the likelihood of debilitating side effects from unnecessary treatments.
Professor Clare Verrill at the University of Oxford is leading a research project to evaluate whether an AI tool called Artera can more accurately predict the likelihood of prostate cancer spreading.
Artera has already shown promise in trials conducted in the United States, and this new research will provide crucial evidence on its potential value for men treated in NHS hospitals.
As a multi-modal AI, this tool can analyse multiple datasets to inform its conclusions. It simultaneously examines a man’s prostate biopsies and clinical data – including his age, PSA levels and Gleason score - to predict how likely a man’s cancer is to spread, and which treatment is likely to benefit him the most.
The team will test the accuracy of the AI in three NHS hospitals – in Oxford, Bristol and Glasgow – which are among the leading centres for digital pathology in the UK. They’ll first check whether the AI is compatible with the hospitals’ current technology, ensuring it can be integrated into NHS systems without causing delays or disrupting existing processes.
Next, they’ll examine prostate biopsy samples from men who’ve previously been diagnosed and received cancer treatment, comparing the AI’s predictions with the actual clinical outcomes.
Once the team is confident the tool can make accurate predictions, they will test it with men in NHS clinics as they’re diagnosed, using the technology to understand which cancers require urgent treatment and ensuring the greatest possible impact by focusing on the most complex cases.
Importantly, this AI analysis will be done alongside the usual report prepared by health professionals and won’t be used at this stage to influence the men’s treatment decisions. But the researchers will compare these decisions to what doctors would have decided if they had used the AI report, and see whether the tool would have helped them in those challenging cases.
This research could be transformational. If we can give men and their clinicians more information at diagnosis, it will help them make better decisions about how to manage their prostate cancer moving forward. That means longer, healthier lives with fewer side effects.
As a man living with advanced prostate cancer, Ian understands the importance of having options when it comes to treatment. At the age of just 52, Ian was diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer, which means his choices have been limited.
He’s currently receiving enzalutamide to help slow the spread of his cancer. While the treatment has given Ian more time, it’s also led to severe mental and physical side effects.
For Ian, an experienced off-road motorcyclist and long-distance runner, living with prostate cancer has been a huge change of pace. And it’s why he wants to make sure other men get the most accurate diagnosis as early as possible, so they can decide how to move forward before their cancer reaches an advanced stage.
We're so grateful to Ian for sharing his story, which powerfully illustrates the real‑world impact of prostate cancer research.
It’s research like this that gives me hope for the future. That men like me won’t be left in the dark when they get their diagnosis. – and might not have to go through the experience I’ve had.
Raising further funds to support vital research
We shared Professor Clare Verrill's exciting research, along with Ian's story, in a fundraising appeal to our supporters.
This appeal has already inspired supporters to donate an incredible £456,411.14 to support our work.
The team also presented their work in a fantastic webinar for our supporters. If you would like to watch the webinar, a link to the recording can be found below.
Thank you!
A huge thank you to Professor Clare Verrill and Ian Greasby for their hard work and support throughout the process, and to all our researchers whose work is helping to improve outcomes for men like Ian.
