Cambridge tech firms uses AI to help diagnose prostate cancer in UK first
They company has been working with NHS Somerset to implement the use of artificial intelligence to help radiologists to look at MRI scans
Last updated 20th Mar 2024
It's hoped the use of artificial intelligence will help speed up diagnosis of prostate cancer - which is the most common cancer in men.
NHS Somerset's been collaborating with a Cambridge tech firm on a 'ground-breaking' UK first - using AI to work alongside radiologists to look at MRI scans.
The Foundation Trust's work with Lucida Medical introduces an AI tool called 'Pi', which displays a number that gives a probability of cancer on the scan - which can help speed up the diagnosis of a patient, if they are suffering from a 'clinically significant' form of the disease.
With support from charities Macmillan Cancer Support and Prostate Cancer Research, it is being introduced at both Yeovil District and Musgrove Park hospitals - and could eventually be rolled out to other hospitals across the country.
Macmillan estimates that there are more than 500,000 men living with prostate cancer in the UK, and 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed in their lifetime.
This disease is particularly dangerous when found at stages 3 or 4, and more than 12,000 deaths occur in the UK each year.
'We expect Pi to relieve pressure within our hospital'
Dr Paul Burn, a consultant radiologist at Somerset FT, explains how the trust came to be involved in this innovative project.
He said: “This all started when we participated in a multi-centre national trial, called ‘PAIR-1’, that assessed the effectiveness of Pi.
“We then trialled a version of Pi at our trust, and we compared its results to radiologists’ reports in over 700 patients, to check that it would work for our purpose.
“The way it works is really simple – within a few minutes of the patient having their MRI scan, the Pi tool displays a number that gives a probability of cancer on the scan. It also shows the exact location of any tumours in the prostate by adding a colour overlay to the scan images.
“The software is located securely on a server within the hospital, so no patient data leaves the trust.
“Using it, we expect to help relieve pressure within our hospital, by enabling patients to go through the diagnostic pathway more rapidly and reducing diagnostic waiting times. It will also support our clinical departments that have smaller numbers of MRI reporters to manage their workload.
“We know that we have to be very careful with the way we use AI, and it’s not intended to replace a human being in this context – instead it’s simply helping to speed up the workflow and potentially aiding our radiologists provide a more accurate diagnosis.
“In many ways we’re using it as a ‘reporting buddy’, so it’ll help with prioritising patients based on clinical need, and telling us which patients we should report on first because they have a higher probability of cancer. Pi also measures the volume of the prostate gland for us, a repetitive job that is time-consuming for radiologists to do manually.
“Patients with prostate cancer have a complicated diagnostic pathway, needing an MRI and a biopsy and it is often challenging to complete all the steps within the national 28 day Faster Diagnosis Standard.
“Our aim is that by using this AI software, we will be able to speed up the process and enable us to prioritise those with cancer. It’ll also free up our radiologists to report on additional patients every day, and may in future allow us to book the patient in for a biopsy more quickly.”
Hope for patients to 'get the best possible diagnosis'
Dr Antony Rix, CEO and co-founder of Lucida Medical, said: “NHS hospitals, including Musgrove Park and Yeovil, have made key contributions to the development and testing of Pi through clinical studies.
"It’s therefore a great pleasure to see Pi put to work to help prostate patients in Somerset get the best possible diagnosis.”
'Pi has the potential to transform how we diagnose and monitor patients'
Dr Anthony Cunliffe, National Lead Medical Adviser at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “Our investment in Lucida Medical and its pioneering AI platform, Pi is the latest venture as part of our Innovation Impact Investment Portfolio.
“Pi has the potential to transform how we diagnose and monitor patients with prostate cancer, so we’re thrilled to see this software being put to use in Musgrove Park and Yeovil.
We look forward to seeing more hospitals across the UK and Europe recognising the great potential of this technology.”
Oliver Kemp, CEO at Prostate Cancer Research (PCR), said: “We are passionate about bringing the best diagnostics and treatments into clinical use to benefit prostate cancer patients. We are delighted that Lucida Medical has reached this tremendous milestone following PCR’s investment in the company and its revolutionary Pi technology.”
You can find out more about prostate cancer on the NHS website.
Help and support is also available on the Macmillan website.