October 23, 2026

expert reaction to NICE draft guidance and evidence generation plan on AI technologies to help detect prostate cancer on MRI scans

Scientist comment on a draft guidance and evidence generation plan from NICE on AI technologies to help detect prostate cancer on MRI scans.

Prof Prabhakar Rajan, Professor of Urology and Robotic Surgery, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, said:

“Prostate cancer places a growing burden on the NHS, and MRI is central to its diagnosis and management.  This creates real challenges in identifying clinically significant cancer in a timely and cost-effective way, while avoiding unnecessary investigations and monitoring cancers that do not require immediate treatment.

“AI has the potential to support faster and more consistent interpretation of MRI scans.  However, it is important to distinguish promising performance in identifying or ruling out suspicious abnormalities from evidence of improved patient outcomes.  The evidence remains limited, which is why NICE is recommending the use of these technologies alongside further evidence generation.  We need to establish whether these tools reliably detect clinically significant cancers, reduce unnecessary biopsies and overdiagnosis of indolent tumours, and perform equitably across different patient groups and NHS settings.  We also need to understand whether they improve efficiency across the diagnostic pathway and deliver meaningful benefits for patients.  AI should be evaluated as part of the whole prostate cancer pathway, with radiologists retaining clinical oversight.”

‘NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH AND CARE EXCELLENCE: HealthTech draft guidance: Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to help detect prostate cancer on MRI: early use assessment’ was published by NICE at 00:01 UK time on Friday 23 October 2026.

Declared interests

Prof Prabhakar Rajan: “Prabhakar Rajan is a director and founder of healthXY Ltd, has received reimbursement for consultancy and advisory boards from Antev Ltd and Medtronic Ltd, speaker fees from Janssen-Cilag Ltd (Johnson & Johnson), and educational support from Angiodynamics UK Ltd, EDAP TMS S.A., HC 21 Healthcare Ltd, Medtronic Ltd, and Janssen-Cilag Ltd (Johnson & Johnson).”