The NHS is set to pilot an artificial intelligence (AI) system that could diagnose prostate cancer up to a month faster, offering a potential breakthrough in early detection and treatment.
The AI-powered “one-day diagnostics” service, funded by NHS England, will interpret MRI scans for men with suspected prostate cancer, identifying potential lesions within minutes.
The “one stop shop” pilot will launch early next year, where around 100 men are expected to benefit from the new rapid diagnosis pathway.
If the AI system flags a scan as high-risk, it will be sent immediately to a radiologist for priority review, allowing patients to receive a biopsy the same day. This means some men could receive either an all-clear or a confirmed diagnosis within days.
Professor Peter Johnson, NHS National Clinical Director for Cancer, said:
“We’re really excited by the potential of artificial intelligence to speed up cancer diagnosis, and we hope this trial of an AI-powered ‘one-day diagnostics’ could be a game changer and help save men weeks of worry and uncertainty.
As with all cancers, speed is crucial – the quicker the diagnosis, the sooner treatment can begin and help give the best chance of treatment being successful for patients and their families.
Prostate cancer continues to have a devastating impact for tens of thousands of men and their loved ones every year in this country. We are determined to see more patients diagnosed or given the all-clear quicker, and combining the latest technology with this new testing pathway will give clinicians the tools they need to provide patients with peace of mind or pin down a cancer diagnosis as soon as possible.”
Currently, NHS guidelines recommend an MRI and biopsy within seven days of a GP referral for suspected prostate cancer, though waiting times can be longer depending on radiologist capacity. The new AI system could dramatically reduce these delays, potentially cutting the waiting time by up to a month.
The pilot will use the AI tool Pi, developed by Cambridge-based company Lucida Medical. The trial in Leeds aims to ensure that more patients can have their cancer diagnosed or ruled out within 28 days. Across up to 15 NHS hospitals, the tool will be applied to 10,000 MRI scans to assist radiologists in detecting cancer and making clinical decisions about surveillance, biopsy, or treatment.
Research suggests the AI can identify up to 95% of prostate cancers.
Dr Oliver Hulson, Consultant Radiologist at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, who is leading the Leeds trial, said:
“As clinicians, we are always looking at ways to improve the diagnosis and treatment of cancer to ensure our patients get the expert care they need as quickly as possible.
This latest innovation pilot aims to take that a step further. The AI assisted MRI screening introduces a rapid diagnostic approach, so that we can fast-track those patients that may need to receive further investigations through MRI scans and a biopsy, to have them all in one day at the Leeds Cancer Centre. We hope this can pave the way to mean faster treatment and better outcomes for our patients and their families.”
The new system could also help move care closer to home, with community diagnostic centres potentially able to carry out AI-assisted MRI scans in future.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in UK men, accounting for more than a quarter of all male cancer diagnoses. Over 56,000 new cases are recorded in England each year, and more than 12,000 men die from the disease annually.
Allan Morton, 66, from Ryton in the North East, knows the anxiety of waiting for results. He delayed seeing his doctor despite symptoms, eventually being diagnosed with stage 3B prostate cancer in 2023 after multiple scans and a two-week wait for biopsy results.
He said:
“I was putting off seeing the doctor, why, I don’t know. Part of it was maybe that I’d heard the stories about guys having to endure weeks of worry, waiting for results of scans and tests, then only to find false positives being thrown up. A lot of unnecessary stress.
If this AI trial proves to be effective and reliable when it comes to determining prostate health and gives answers sooner, perhaps even in a single day, then that could save not just time, but lives and relationships too. Anything that helps men to be diagnosed should there be a problem and thus face it sooner is progress well worth celebrating.”
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said:
“Prostate cancer is a devastating disease impacting thousands of men every year – and what makes this already incredibly challenging situation worse for these men are long waits for test results, diagnosis and treatment – it’s needlessly distressing for them and their families.
By harnessing the power of technology we are revolutionising our NHS and tackling this, with AI able to deliver same day prostate diagnoses – delivering better outcomes for patients and fast support for doctors.
This is modernising the NHS, making it fit for the future and boosting productivity and efficiency – ending needlessly long and apprehensive waits for test results, enabling patients to begin treatment as fast as possible and saving lives.”
Amy Rylance, Assistant Director of Health Improvement at Prostate Cancer UK, described the trial as “exciting” and said it “opens the door” to faster, fairer diagnoses.
“The process of getting diagnosed in the NHS is safer and more accurate than it’s ever been, thanks to recent advances like MRI scans and targeted biopsies. The AI tool could represent a further step change, saving men prolonged anxiety and the bother of hospital trips, while also increasing capacity for our hard-working NHS workforce.”
Lucy Davies, VP of Clinical at Lucida Medical, said:
“Through our partnership with Leeds Teaching Hospitals and NHS England, we aim to show that our technology Pi™ can help doctors rapidly identify men with prostate cancer. This has the potential to enable a more efficient care pathway, supporting a ‘one stop shop’ for diagnosis, ultimately leading to improved outcomes for patients and cost savings.”
The project is one of seven innovative pilots funded through a £14 million NHS Cancer Programme Innovation Open Call, aimed at improving early cancer detection across England.
