Innovative AI Imaging Techniques Detect Early Kidney Damage in Prostate Cancer Treatments

A groundbreaking study from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has introduced an innovative method leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to identify early signs of kidney damage in patients undergoing prostate cancer therapy. The research focused on patients receiving lutetium-177 PSMA radioligand therapy, a targeted treatment that has shown promising results against certain prostate tumors but carries the risk of impairing kidney function.

The team analyzed routine CT scans and blood tests from 121 patients, seeking subtle changes that could indicate organ damage before clinical symptoms appeared. Their findings revealed that a decrease of 10% or more in kidney volume within six months of starting treatment strongly predicted significant decline in renal function over the following six months.

These minor changes are often overlooked during standard assessments because clinicians typically focus on tumor response and major abnormalities. However, advanced AI-based image analysis can reliably detect these tiny yet critical variations, enabling earlier intervention.

The implications of this research extend beyond prostate cancer, as similar image analysis approaches could monitor other organ functions affected by various cancer therapies. Adjusting treatment plans based on early detection of organ changes could help personalize cancer therapy, reducing the risk of long-term organ damage.

According to Dr. Lisa Steinhelfer, the lead author, the ability to identify early kidney impairment allows for tailored adjustments in therapy—such as reducing the number of treatment cycles or lowering doses—potentially preventing more severe kidney deterioration. The ongoing studies at TUM aim to validate these findings further and explore their application across different cancer treatments.

In addition to kidneys, previous research by the team showed spleen size changes as early indicators of blood cell production issues, highlighting the potential wide-ranging benefits of AI-driven monitoring in oncology care.

This study underscores the critical role of advanced imaging analysis in enhancing patient safety and treatment effectiveness, offering a promising avenue for more personalized and proactive cancer care.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-04-prostate-cancer-therapies-ai-based.html