A new artificial intelligence (AI) test is offering hope to men with high-risk prostate cancer by identifying who will benefit most from abiraterone, a drug known to reduce the risk of death. The breakthrough was shared at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s conference in Chicago. Researchers from the U.S., the U.K., and Switzerland developed the tool, which analyzes tumor samples to detect patterns that doctors can’t see with the naked eye.
The AI looks at images from prostate tumor biopsies. It then predicts which patients are more likely to gain from abiraterone, a drug already approved to treat advanced prostate cancer. What’s new is its ability to guide treatment even before the cancer spreads. That could change the way doctors decide who gets abiraterone and who can do well with just hormone therapy and radiotherapy.
More than 1,000 men with high-risk but non-metastatic prostate cancer took part in the study. The AI was able to identify the top 25% of patients who were likely to see a big benefit from abiraterone. In this group, the risk of death within five years dropped from 17% to 9%. For the remaining 75%, the drug didn’t make much of a difference. These findings help doctors avoid unnecessary side effects for many and focus treatment where it matters most.
Professor Nick James from the Institute of Cancer Research in London explained the impact clearly. He said knowing who truly benefits helps patients avoid extra risk. It also lets healthcare systems like the NHS use money and medicine wisely. At just £77 per pack, abiraterone is cheaper than many newer cancer drugs, yet still needs careful monitoring because of possible side effects.
Professor Gert Attard from University College London co-led the research. He said this AI tool shows how everyday medical data can be turned into real-life solutions. Instead of treating everyone the same, doctors can now tailor therapy and avoid giving extra treatment to those who don’t need it. This is a big step forward in personalized cancer care.
In the U.K., access to abiraterone is not the same everywhere. Scotland and Wales already provide it for high-risk cases where the cancer has not spread. But NHS England still limits it to patients with advanced-stage cancer. With this new evidence, there is growing pressure to change that policy.
Dr. Matthew Hobbs from Prostate Cancer UK called the test a game changer. He said more men could now get the help they need sooner. He also supported the idea that the NHS should expand access to the drug. An NHS spokesperson responded by saying that plans to widen access to abiraterone are ongoing, but funding is a key issue. The new AI test and studies like it will help shape those decisions in the near future.
The AI test could mark a major shift in how prostate cancer is treated. By showing who truly benefits from abiraterone, it helps doctors balance risk and reward. It also gives patients better information and clearer choices.
With prostate cancer being one of the most common cancers in men, tools that improve decision-making are welcome. Early treatment decisions can have lifelong effects. This AI system offers a smarter, safer way to give the right drug to the right person at the right time.