PCO-FOCUS
The development of an AI-based prediction model for assessing continence and sexual function after prostate cancer treatments
The PCO-FOCUS project is based on the Prostate Cancer Outcomes study (PCO study for short). The aim is to develop AI-based models to predict the risk of urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction in prostate cancer patients after treatment. In order to use the data from the PCO study for this purpose, the project will first create a synthetic data set from the PCO data. This data set will enable the development of prediction models without having to use the original data. The final model will then be created using the original data set in a secure processing environment. The results of the model for personalised prediction will then be transferred to a web-based application. Usability tests with medical professionals and affected individuals will be carried out to check the user-friendliness of the application and to improve it iteratively.
Involved Institutions
Oncological health services research with a focus on digital medicine, Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Centre for Integrated Oncology Düsseldorf (CIO-D), University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf
Clinical Institute for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Centre for Integrated Oncology Düsseldorf (CIO-D), University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf
German Cancer Society (DKG)
Federal Association for Prostate Self-Help
Maastro Clinic Maastricht, Netherlands
Funding
Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR)
Duration
October 2025 – March 2026
Publications
see publications
Contact
PD Dr. rer. medic. Christoph Kowalski
Dr. med. Nora Tabea Sibert
Johannes Soff
