Aragonese research group working on 4D digital twin for prostate cancer treatment

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men and the fourth most common cancer overall. More than 1.4 million new cases were reported in 2020. The Multiscale group in mechanical and biological engineering of the Aragonese Engineering Research Institute (I3A) of the University of Zaragoza is working on a project to create a digital twin of prostate cancer. improve identification and subsequent selection of the most appropriate treatment for the patient.

Virtual model

Screening for prostate cancer usually involves prostate-specific antigen testing, which measures the level of a protein produced by the prostate in the blood. Additionally, a digital rectal examination is performed, in which the doctor feels the prostate through the rectum to assess its condition. These methods help identify potential problems, but definitive diagnosis is made by biopsy, where samples of prostate tissue are taken for analysis. These diagnostic methods are quite invasive. Therefore, in recent years, the use of medical imaging as a diagnostic tool has become especially relevant. At the same time, personalized pathology assessment is very important.

From these ideas arose the ProCanAid project, the main goal of which is develop a computational tool to create a 4D digital twin: a virtual model designed to accurately represent a patient’s entire prostate and its possible tumor. Based on the magnetic resonance images, a series of artificial intelligence-based algorithms are implemented that extract the anatomy of the patient’s prostate, tumor, and sets of nerves and vessels. All of these structures have been shown to be important for understanding the progression and invasion of prostate cancer.

The tool develops in silico computational models to predict the evolution of a patient’s tumor according to its own characteristics. To do this, the behavior of healthy cells, tumor cells and prostate tissue is taken into account. This model will also allow us to predict the effects of various cancer treatments. in the specified patient (hormone therapy and radiation therapy).

Project

What is a digital twin?

Digital twins are powerful tools that provide a dynamic digital representation of real-world objects, systems, or processes. They allow you to simulate, monitor and optimize various situations, which leads to more informed and effective decision making in different areas. In industry, they facilitate process modeling and optimization. In urban planning, resource management and aerospace design, they are a key tool. In healthcare, they enable the simulation of medical conditions and virtual drug testing. Ultimately, digital twins are versatile tools that improve the efficiency and quality of decision-making across industries by offering detailed modeling and analysis.

Why is there prostate cancer that is not treated immediately?

An interesting fact about prostate cancer is that, unlike many other types of cancer, In some cases, prostate cancer may grow very slowly and, in some older men, may not cause serious problems during their lifetime. This phenomenon is known as “indolent prostate cancer” or “low-grade prostate cancer.”

This creates decision-making problems for patients and their doctors because Not all cases of prostate cancer require aggressive treatment. Active surveillance, in which the cancer is monitored but not treated immediately, is a strategy sometimes used in cases of slow-growing prostate cancer.

This unique aspect of prostate cancer is highlighted importance of individual assessment and shared decision making between patient and physician. The possible use of tools such as a digital twin to determine the best approach to treating a disease depending on a specific situation could be very positive for its monitoring and subsequent treatment.

What is an in silico model?

The in silico model is A computational or mathematical model that is used to simulate, analyze, or represent processes, phenomena, or systems in a virtual or digital environment. The expression “in silico” comes from Latin and is used to indicate that the simulation is performed in a computational environment, as opposed to “in vivo” (in living organisms) or “in vitro” (in laboratory conditions) models.

These “in silico” models can solve wide choice of destinationsfrom biological sciences and medicine to physics, chemistry, engineering and social sciences.

Some ExamplesIn health care, these would be models that predict how a bone is repaired in the event of a fracture, how a wound heals and subsequent scar formation, models that assess how cells interact under different environmental conditions and when drugs are added, etc.

Maria Angeles Perez Anson Institute for Engineering Research of Aragon (I3A)

In collaboration with the Department of Scientific Culture of the University of Zaragoza.

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