Victoria-based cancer treatment trial set to harness power of artificial intelligence
Doctors in Victoria are trying to improve their results from a clinical trial that led to changes in the standard of care for men going through prostate cancer treatment by harnessing the power of artificial intelligence.
The follow-up research will form the second stage of a clinical trial from 2017 called ASSERT, which looked at making radiation treatment for men with prostate cancer more efficient and more convenient.
“We looked at a new technology called stereotactic radiotherapy," says BC Cancer-Victoria radiation oncologist Dr. Abe Alexander. "It uses some advanced technologies to focus the radiation more accurately and more precisely so we’re able to give the radiation in a smaller amount of doses, each of which is bigger."
The clinical trial from 2017 showed beneficial results where doctors could give patients five radiation treatments rather than 20 to 40.
“In fact, people who got the [stereotactic ablative radiotherapy] SABR treatment had at least as favourable side effects, perhaps in some ways better than the standard treatment,” says Alexander.
He adds that around the same time a separate clinical trial was done in the United Kingdom showing high levels of disease control as well. He says with the combined results, it helped lead to changes in standard of care.
SABR has been used in 400 to 500 patients in B.C. and the numbers continue to rise.
Now the Victoria-based team thinks there’s potential to get the radiation treatments down even lower from five to two sessions using artificial intelligence. Alexander says the AI can be used along with the work of highly trained specialists to make decisions faster.
“With this kind of trial, we’re hoping to minimize the number of visits which I think is critical in today’s environment where we have issues with wait lists and just ever increasing demands on our resources,” says Alexander. “If we can minimize the number of treatments for people and improve their side effects and quality of life, I think we can do a whole lot for the community – particularly for prostate cancer which is extremely common.”
A three-time cancer patient in Nanaimo, who is an advocate for raising awareness in young men about getting checked for prostate cancer, has recently learned about the return of the disease to his body.
While he doesn’t know his course of treatment yet, he says he hopes the clinical trial could be an option for him.
“I wouldn’t have to be away from Nanaimo for a significant amount of time,” says Don Helgeson. “This is where my support network is and you also have to factor in costs. It would have to be addressed if I went to another city for treatment.”
He says time isn’t on his side for the decision, so he plans to take whatever option his oncologist suggests.
The $500,000 trial is set to get underway later this year, relying largely on donor support through the BC Cancer Foundation.
“The cost savings for the system are enormous. The impact for patients and their families are enormous and if you’re able to make things more convenient for people then they’re able to access that treatment more easily,” says Alexander.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Signs of Alzheimer’s were everywhere. Then his brain improved
Blood biomarkers of telltale signs of early Alzheimer’s disease in the brain of his patient, 55-year-old entrepreneur Simon Nicholls, had all but disappeared in a mere 14 months.
Box tree moths have infested Ontario and experts say more are coming. Here's what to do to protect your garden
An invasive moth species is on the rise in Canada and, if you've planted a certain shrub, it could stand to ruin your garden.
Lyon-bound Air Canada Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner from Montreal turns back midflight due to pressurization alert
Passengers heading from Montreal to Lyon, France on Friday were forced to return home and depart the next day after a pressurization indication was detected in flight.
Oilers dominate Canucks, win to force deciding Game 7
The Edmonton Oilers avoided elimination from the NHL playoffs Saturday night, beating the visiting Vancouver Canucks 5-1 in Game 6 of their second-round series.
The eight most expensive homes for sale in Ottawa this spring
Ottawa's ultra luxury housing market is blooming like the tulips this spring, with a significant increase in the number of homes sold worth more than $2 million.
B.C. pipeline company argues its 'haulers' are not trucks, for tax purposes
A contractor working on the Coastal GasLink pipeline has been denied more than $333,000 worth of tax rebates because pieces of machinery it purchased – and claimed were not trucks – were deemed sufficiently truck-like in B.C. Supreme Court.
$500K-worth of elvers seized at Toronto airport
Fishery and border service officers seized more than 100 kilograms of unauthorized elvers at the Toronto Pearson International Airport on Wednesday.
Usyk beats Fury by split decision, becomes undisputed heavyweight champion
Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury by split decision to become the first undisputed heavyweight boxing champion in 24 years.
To plant or not to plant? Gardening tips for May long weekend
May long weekend is finally here, and with the extra time off you may be getting the itch to head out to your garden and plant. However, the old debate whether you should plant now, or wait, is still ever-present.