Where Will Artificial Intelligence Impact Prostate Cancer Diagnostics and Therapy?

David M. Albala, MD

How to cite: Albala DM. Where Will Artificial Intelligence Impact Prostate Cancer Diagnostics and Therapy. Grand Rounds in Urology. February 2026. Accessed Mar 2026. https://grandroundsinurology.com/where-will-artificial-intelligence-impact-prostate-cancer-diagnostics-and-therapy/

Summary

David M. Albala, MD, Chief of Urology, Crouse Hospital, Syracuse, New York, reviews how artificial intelligence is being integrated into prostate cancer diagnostics and therapy, focusing on clinical applications in imaging, surgical planning, pathology, and risk stratification.

Dr. Albala presents Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a response to limitations in prostate cancer detection and management, including the limitations of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing specificity, biopsy morbidity, variability in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) interpretation, and the risks of overdiagnosis. AI tools aim to improve diagnostic precision, reduce interobserver variability, and support personalized treatment selection.

In imaging, AI applications extend across MRI and prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography (PSMA PET). Machine learning and deep learning algorithms assist with tumor characterization, segmentation, and classification. Platforms such as PYLARIFY AI provide automated hotspot detection, quantification, and standardized reporting for PSMA PET/computed tomography (CT), supporting consistent assessment of disease burden and response monitoring.

Unfold AI integrates MRI with biopsy data to generate 3D maps of cancer risk. Retrospective radical prostatectomy cohorts demonstrate improved sensitivity for tumor extent and reduced false negative rates for extracapsular extension compared with imaging and nomograms. High performance in seminal vesicle invasion prediction is also reported.

Pathology applications include automated Gleason grading and integration of digital pathology with clinical variables. Multimodal systems support the selection of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and enhance risk stratification.

Dr. Albala emphasizes workflow efficiency, radiotherapy planning support, and clinical decision tools while acknowledging ongoing challenges in validation, generalizability, integration into clinical practice, and regulatory oversight. AI is positioned as an adjunct technology with expanding influence across prostate cancer care.

The International Prostate Cancer Update (IPCU), is a multi-day, CME-accredited conference focused on new developments in prostate cancer treatment, diagnosis, and prevention. IPCU 36 will feature lectures, interactive discussions, panel roundtables, debates, and case reports. This conference is led by expert physicians and is designed for urologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and other healthcare professionals involved in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer.

The goal of this educational program is to equip healthcare professionals involved in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer with the up-to-date clinical knowledge and tools they need to best treat their patients. The program will discuss the treatment of prostate cancer from diagnosis to treating advanced and metastatic disease. The conference aims to give physicians exposure to a comprehensive review of treating prostate cancer patients and to give them a chance to discuss the issues with peers and experts.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

David M. Albala, MD

David M. Albala, MD, is a Chief of Urology at Crouse Hospital in Syracuse, New York. Dr. Albala is considered a national and international authority in laparoscopic and robotic urological surgery. His clinical interests include minimally invasive treatments for benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), the use of fibrin sealants in surgery, and robotic urologic surgery.

Dr. Albala earned his medical degree at Michigan State University in East Lansing. He completed a residency in Surgery at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire. He then completed a fellowship in Endourology at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Under the direction of Ralph V. Clayman, Dr. Albala was part of the team that performed the first laparoscopic nephrectomy in humans.

Dr. Albala is a past White House Fellow (1995-1996), who acted as a special assistant to Federico Peña, Secretary of Transportation, on classified and unclassified public health related issues. He has been a visiting professor at numerous institutions across the United States as well as overseas in countries such as India, China, Iceland, Germany, France, Japan, Brazil, Australia, and Singapore. He has done operative demonstrations in over 32 countries and 23 states. Dr. Albala has over 215 publications in peer-reviewed journals and has authored 3 textbooks in endourology and 4 books in general urology. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief of theJournal of Robotic Surgeryand serves on the editorial board forCurrent Opinions in Urology, Reviews in Urology,andUrology Index and Reviews. In addition, he serves as a reviewer for 8 other surgical journals. He is currently on the Board of Directors of the Large Urology Group Practice Association (LUGPA). Dr. Albala is also currently the Visiting Professor of Urology at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, College of Medicine. Dr. Albala has been identified (by a Stanford University-led study) as one of the top 2% of scientists in the world.

About The Author

David M. Albala, MD

David M. Albala, MD, is a Chief of Urology at Crouse Hospital in Syracuse, New York. Dr. Albala is considered a national and international authority in laparoscopic and robotic urological surgery. His clinical interests include minimally invasive treatments for benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), the use of fibrin sealants in surgery, and robotic urologic surgery. Dr. Albala earned his medical degree at Michigan State University in East Lansing. He completed a residency in Surgery at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire. He then completed a fellowship in Endourology at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Under the direction of Ralph V. Clayman, Dr. Albala was part of the team that performed the first laparoscopic nephrectomy in humans. Dr. Albala is a past White House Fellow (1995-1996), who acted as a special assistant to Federico Peña, Secretary of Transportation, on classified and unclassified public health related issues. He has been a visiting professor at numerous institutions across the United States as well as overseas in countries such as India, China, Iceland, Germany, France, Japan, Brazil, Australia, and Singapore. He has done operative demonstrations in over 32 countries and 23 states. Dr. Albala has over 215 publications in peer-reviewed journals and has authored 3 textbooks in endourology and 4 books in general urology. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Robotic Surgery and serves on the editorial board for Current Opinions in Urology, Reviews in Urology, and Urology Index and Reviews. In addition, he serves as a reviewer for 8 other surgical journals. He is currently on the Board of Directors of the Large Urology Group Practice Association (LUGPA). Dr. Albala is also currently the Visiting Professor of Urology at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, College of Medicine. Dr. Albala has been identified (by a Stanford University-led study) as one of the top 2% of scientists in the world.

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