Scientists have used AI to reveal a new form of aggressive prostate cancer which could revolutionize how the disease is diagnosed and treated.
A Cancer Research UK-funded study found prostate cancer, which affects one in eight men in their lifetime, includes two subtypes.
It is hoped the findings could save thousands of lives in future and revolutionise how the cancer is diagnosed and treated.
Researchers used AI to analyse data from DNA and identify the two subtypes of cancer.
The study could ultimately lead to tailored treatments to each individual patient according to a genetic test which will also be delivered using AI.
According to Cancer Research UK, prostate cancer is the most common cancer affecting men in the UK, with around 52,000 cases a year.
Dr Rupal Mistry, the charity’s senior science engagement manager, said: “The work published today by this global consortium of researchers has the potential to make a real difference to people affected by prostate cancer.
“The more we understand about cancer the better chance we have of developing treatments to beat it.
“We are proud to have helped fund this cutting-edge work, which has laid the foundations for personalised treatments for people with prostate cancer, allowing more people to beat their disease.”
The research highlights how a prostate cancer diagnosis can affect physical, emotional and mental wellbeing.
The scientists worked together as part of an international consortium called The Pan Prostate Cancer Group.
They aim to develop a genetic test that, when combined with current methods, can provide a more precise prognosis for each patient, allowing tailored treatment decisions.
Dr Naomi Elster, director of research at Prostate Cancer Research, said: “These results could be the beginning of us being able to take the same ‘divide and conquer’ approach to prostate cancer that has worked in other diseases, such as breast cancer.”
In the study, published in Cell Genomics, the researchers used AI to study changes in the DNA of prostate cancer samples from 159 patients, and identified two distinct cancer groups.
Professor Colin Cooper, from UEA’s Norwich Medical School, said: “This study is really important because until now, we thought that prostate cancer was just one type of disease.
“But it is only now, with advancements in artificial intelligence, that we have been able to show that there are actually two different subtypes at play.
“We hope that the findings will not only save lives through better diagnosis and tailored treatments in the future, but they may help researchers working in other cancer fields better understand other types of cancer too.”
AI and Cancer Treatment in Miami, Florida
There is a lot of buzz right now about AI, artificial intelligence, and robots, and while some of the news might be unsettling, there is a flip side that is positive – especially when it comes to life-saving medical treatments using robots.
According to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) there are seven medical robots that may save your life. Among them is CyberKnife, which uses image-guided robotic technology to deliver targeted radiation called stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) directly to the cancer site with pinpoint accuracy.
CyberKnife’s technology is designed to move with the patient as they breathe naturally – delivering precise radiation to the cancer while sparing the surrounding healthy tissue.
“Patients need not worry about staying absolutely still and require no breath restraining devices or breath holding. Patients do not even need anesthesia—the treatment is painless—and can eat and drink whatever they want before treatment,” ASME says.
CyberKnife was also recently mentioned by Forbes Technology Council, as one of the medical robotic technologies providing some competitive advantages over traditional treatments. It “delivers high-dose radiation to tumors with sub-millimeter accuracy,” according to the article.
And while this technology is growing in popularity, the CyberKnife Center of Miami, has been at the forefront of this technology from the beginning – led by Dr. Mark Pomper, board-certified radiation oncologist and medical director of CyberKnife Miami.
CyberKnife Miami: Experts in Cancer Treatment in Miami, Florida
That is why CyberKnife Miami is the cancer treatment center to turn to in Miami, Florida.
“I feel it is my mission to try to help patients understand that cancer is not a death sentence. We have many weapons to help battle this disease and CyberKnife is one of the most powerful,” Dr. Pomper says.
CyberKnife Miami has been treating patients in South Florida and around the world for more than two decades.
“CyberKnife is the most sophisticated and refined way to treat most tumors,” says Dr. Pomper on CyberKnife Miami’s YouTube Channel.
CyberKnife Miami has helped thousands of patients – even patients who were told they could not have more radiation, or their tumors were not treatable.
CyberKnife can be used on prostate, lung, brain, spine, liver, pancreas, head and neck, and kidney tumors. It can also be used on tumors where surgery is not an option or in the case of metastasis.
And it can be used for trigeminal neuralgia as well as acoustic neuromas. The future of CyberKnife is growing stronger because of clinical trials with favorable outcomes.
In a survey of 1,500 cancer doctors, nearly 65% use SBRT like CyberKnife, and 80% plan to increase their use of it.
Also, 60% of doctors not using it now say they plan to do so in the future.
The most common reasons: CyberKnife’s ability to deliver higher doses of radiation in less time and the ability to retreat patients when necessary.
CyberKnife Miami: The Cancer Treatment Advantage in South Florida
At CyberKnife Miami, we treat patients who have been turned away from other centers and told there is nothing more that can be done. That is because we have the expertise to help these patients.
“A lot of medical or cancer centers that have CyberKnife technology do not have as much experience as we have using it. So, they get scared when they see a big tumor and think it is not worth treating or are worried about complications. Other doctors feel if it is incurable why be aggressive?” explains Dr. Pomper.
But CyberKnife Miami is different because of our years of experience. “This is what we do all day, every day. We know what can and cannot be treated,” he says.
That is CyberKnife Miami’s advantage. We arm our patients with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions. And we work with each patient to make sure each one of them receives the best treatment possible.
If you would like to find out more about cancer treatment with CyberKnife, call us at 305-279-2900.
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