Computerized tissue-imaging may help predict early recurrence of lung cancer

3D Illustration of Human Body Organs (Lungs Anatomy)

Case Western Reserve and Cleveland Clinic have developed a computerized tissue-imaging program that could soon help identify which lung cancer patients are likely to face an earlier recurrence of the disease.With that information, cancer experts could more accurately determine which lung cancer patients should undergo aggressive post-surgery chemotherapy and which are unlikely to benefit from it.

Dr.VamsidharVelcheti, M.D., a thoracic oncologist at Cleveland Clinic, said that a predictive test before surgery would benefit both patients and give doctors a more precise tool in determining which patients can avoid the adverse side effects of chemo.Dr.  Anant Madabhushi Founding Director of the Center for Computational Imaging and Personalized Diagnostics (CCIPD) at the Case School of Engineering said that the new analysis will fund builds on the center’s recent similar successes in using digitized images to stratify degree of risk and aggressiveness of breast and prostate cancer, as published in Scientific Reports.

Madabhushi said, “Our paper shows that we’re able to look at the shape, texture and spatial arrangement of these nuclei and see a significant difference in those who have an early recurrence of lung cancer and those who have a late recurrence.”

Using digital images of the original slides and feeding them into a computer has eliminated the need to examine the actual tissue.Because virtually every oncologist also takes a tissue sample and then captures an image that also means the analysis could be available and more affordable to patients globally. That’s especially important in places where high-tech magnetic resonance imaging or other imaging tests aren’t easily obtained, Madabhushi said.

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