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Three hospital systems in England have initiated an innovative clinical trial to test artificial intelligence (AI) technology designed to detect and assess prostate cancer. Led by the University of Oxford, this study, known as ARTICULATE PRO, is conducted in collaboration with Paige, a leading company in clinical AI applications for cancer diagnosis.
The participating hospitals include Southmead Hospital under the North Bristol Trust, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire, and the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. This multi-site trial aims to evaluate AI’s ability to improve patient outcomes amidst rising prostate cancer cases.
Technological Leadership Towards a Better Future
Professor Clare Verrill, Consultant Cellular Pathologist at the University of Oxford and Principal Investigator for ARTICULATE PRO, commented, “We are committed to ensuring that patients benefit safely and effectively from powerful AI technology.” She added, “By conducting this multi-site, real-world study of the Paige Prostate Suite, we can systematically investigate its benefits for patients in clinical settings.”
The Prostate Suite system, currently under trial, is designed to assist pathologists in detecting, evaluating, and measuring tumors in prostate biopsy and tissue samples. Pathologists at the three hospitals are assessing how this technology influences their clinical decisions, pathology services delivery, and resource utilization in practical environments.
Supporting Advanced Clinical Research
Dr. John Oxley, Urological Pathologist and ARTICULATE PRO Lead in Bristol, stated, “Having studied the disease and progression of prostate cancer in clinical research for over 25 years, it is exciting to see Paige’s AI applications reach a level of validation and performance that allows for safe and effective clinical use.” He added, “Using the Paige Prostate Suite alongside our standard care promises to increase efficiency and improve result consistency for patients.”
This study is notable for its implementation across hospitals utilizing different digital scanners and information systems, serving diverse patient populations. This diversity enables a comprehensive evaluation of how Paige’s AI technology can best serve patients, pathologists, and hospital systems in diagnosing prostate cancer.
New Horizons in Cancer Diagnosis
Dr. Bidisha Sinha, Urological Pathologist at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire, added, “We believe AI can help improve the accuracy and consistency of cancer assessments and aid in detecting small areas of cancer that are easily missed.” She emphasized, “This is pioneering research on a global scale taking place at UHCW. We are proud to be global leaders in digital and computational pathology.”
The study is funded by the Accelerated Access Collaborative (AAC) Artificial Intelligence in Health and Care Award, overseen by the Department of Health and Social Care.
A Bright Future with AI
As prostate cancer rates continue to rise, integrating AI into diagnostic processes could lead to earlier detection and more accurate assessments, thereby improving patient outcomes. The results of this trial may pave the way for broader adoption of AI in cancer diagnosis across the UK and beyond.
Source: Various sources
