Scientists have developed an AI test that helps doctors identify which prostate cancer patients will benefit most from the drug abiraterone. This drug has already improved survival for some men with advanced prostate cancer by reducing the risk of death by half.

The research team from the US, UK, and Switzerland revealed the new tool at a major cancer conference. The AI test examines tumor images to detect patterns invisible to the human eye. It then classifies patients as either biomarker-positive or biomarker-negative.

The tool was tested on more than 1,000 men with high-risk prostate cancer that had not yet spread. It found that about 25 percent of these patients responded well to abiraterone. For these men, the drug reduced the five-year death rate from 17 percent to 9 percent. The remaining 75 percent showed only small benefits and can do well with standard hormone and radiation treatments alone.

Abiraterone is effective but can cause side effects such as high blood pressure, liver issues, heart attacks, and diabetes. The AI helps doctors avoid giving the drug to patients unlikely to benefit, reducing unnecessary risks.

The cost of abiraterone is about £77 per pack. The researchers hope that health services like England’s NHS will expand access to the drug for earlier stages of prostate cancer. Currently, the NHS only covers it for advanced cases, but Scotland and Wales have already approved its use earlier in the disease.

Prostate Cancer UK supported the study and called the AI tool an important step toward more precise treatment. NHS officials said they are reviewing the latest evidence and may expand funding for the drug if budgets allow.

The new AI test offers clear guidance on which patients will gain the most from abiraterone, helping doctors target treatment more effectively and avoid over-treatment.