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
Potential tornado 'surreal' for residents who witnessed damaging storm in southern Ontario
Witnessing a potential tornado was 'surreal' for residents who caught a glimpse of the damaging storm in southern Ontario on Wednesday night.
Was this the bug that stung you? Wasp sightings revive murder-hornet concerns; no detections confirmed
As temperatures rise out of a mild El Nino winter, Canada's buggy season is already upon us again, and this year, the bugs are looking especially big.
WestJet planning new fare category for travellers willing to forgo carry-on bag
WestJet Airlines plans to launch a new cheaper fare category that would be available to travellers willing to fly without a carry-on bag.
'We'll need all hands on deck': Details emerge after deadly boat crash near Kingston, Ont.
Police say they have wrapped up their on-scene investigation into a deadly boat crash in eastern Ontario as details of the incident begin to emerge.
Adding just 10% ultraprocessed foods to healthy diets may raise risk of cognitive decline, stroke
Eating more ultraprocessed foods is linked to a higher risk of cognitive decline and stroke, even if a person is trying to adhere to a Mediterranean diet, the DASH diet or the MIND diet, a new study found.
Cassie Ventura breaks her silence on 2016 video that showed her being physically assaulted by Sean 'Diddy' Combs
Cassie Ventura has shared a statement expressing her gratitude for the support she has received since CNN's publication of a 2016 surveillance video that showed her being physically assaulted by her then-boyfriend, Sean 'Diddy' Combs.
Bangkok hospital says most seriously injured from turbulence-hit flight need spinal operations
Many of the more seriously injured people who were on the Singapore Airlines flight that hit severe turbulence need operations on their spines, a Bangkok hospital said Thursday.
'Looking over our shoulders': A killing looms large in a little B.C. town
Something shifted in the pretty little village of Lumby, B.C., after Tatjana Stefanski vanished.
Charlie Colin, founding member of the pop-rock band Train, dies at 58
Charlie Colin, bassist and founding member of the American pop-rock band Train, best known for their early-aughts hits like 'Drops of Jupiter' and 'Meet Virginia,' has died. He was 58.