We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us
LGC Clinical Diagnostics

Download Mobile App




AI Model Analyzes Cells in Tissue Samples without Need for Trained Pathologist

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 07 Apr 2023
Print article
Image: The tissue biopsy is processed through a tissue grind and then analyzed using real-time deformability cytometry (Photo courtesy of MPL)
Image: The tissue biopsy is processed through a tissue grind and then analyzed using real-time deformability cytometry (Photo courtesy of MPL)

Fast and precise information regarding the operated tissue is crucial for guiding a surgeon's next steps during cancer surgery. In cases where solid tumors are present in a cancer patient, the surgeon typically sends a biopsy sample to a pathologist for a rapid assessment. The pathologist must determine, among other things, whether the tissue is healthy, the extent of cancer's spread into the organs, etc. The traditional intraoperative diagnostic process is laborious, time-consuming, and resource-intensive. Now, scientists have developed a new technique that can perform a reliable analysis of solid tumors in as little as 30 minutes, without the need for a trained pathologist.

A research team from the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light (MPL, Erlangen, Germany) has created a novel technique that enables clinicians to analyze cells in tissue samples from cancer patients quickly and precisely, without requiring the expertise of a trained pathologist. The team used artificial intelligence (AI) to evaluate the data generated by their method. For their study, the researchers utilized a tissue grinder to quickly tear apart biopsy samples down to the single-cell level. Subsequently, these single cells were analyzed using real-time deformability cytometry (RT-DC), an approach that is label-free and capable of examining the physical properties of up to 1,000 cells per second. This method is 36,000 times faster than the conventional methods used to evaluate cell deformability.

RT-DC involves pushing single cells at high speed through a microscopic channel, where they undergo deformation due to stress and pressure. Images are captured of each cell, which are then utilized by scientists to ascertain a variety of physical characteristics of the cells, including their size, shape, and deformability. However, solely conducting a physical analysis of cells is insufficient for diagnostic purposes. Physicians must be able to interpret these outcomes independently, without the need for the expertise of a trained pathologist or physicist. Therefore, to accomplish this, the researchers combined the tissue grinder and RT-DC with AI. The AI model evaluates the extensive, complex datasets obtained through RT-DC analysis and rapidly assesses whether a biopsy sample comprises cancerous tissue or not. Furthermore, the use of AI confirmed the significance of cell deformability as a biomarker, as the outcomes were markedly inferior when the AI was not trained with this variable.

Overall, the complete procedure, which includes sample processing and automated data analysis, can be executed in under 30 minutes, making it sufficiently fast to be carried out during surgery. One significant advantage of this method is that it does not require the immediate availability of a pathologist to analyze the sample. This is particularly advantageous since intraoperative consultations may not always be feasible, and in some cases, samples can only be examined after the surgery is completed. Based on the results, patients may need to return to the hospital for further surgery, often days later. Aside from testing for tumor presence, this technique was also utilized to detect tissue inflammation in a model of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In the future, this method could assist clinicians in evaluating disease severity or distinguishing between various types of IBD. The team aims to eventually transition their method into a clinical setting to support or perhaps even supplant the traditional pathological analysis.

“This was a proof of concept study - the method could accurately determine the presence of tumor tissue in our samples very quickly,” said Dr. Despina Soteriou, a member of the research team. “The next step will be to continue to work very closely with clinicians to determine how this method can best be translated into the clinic.”

Related Links:
MPL 

Platinum Supplier
ADAMTS-13 Protease Activity Test
ATS-13 Activity Assay
Gold Supplier
COVID-19 Antigen Self-Test
Panbio COVID-19 Antigen Self-Test
Complement 3 (C3) Test
GPP-100 C3 Kit
New
Cardiac Test
Fluoro-Check AMI 3 IN 1

Print article

Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image: A module with eight micro-devices, complete with microfluidic channels and drive motors (Photo courtesy of U.S Department of Energy)

Highly Sensitive pH Sensor to Aid Detection of Cancers and Vector-Borne Viruses

Understanding the acidity or alkalinity of substances through pH measurement is crucial in many fields, from environmental monitoring to healthcare product safety. In many cases, these measurements must... Read more

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: Newly identified biomarkers may detect early cognitive decline via a blood test (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Blood Tests to Enable Early Identification of Cognitive Decline and Personalized Treatments

Some individuals who have endured extreme stressors like psychiatric disorders or childhood abuse and neglect can experience a variety of health issues later in life, such as depression, anxiety, and cardiovascular... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: The QScout hematology analyzer has received US FDA 510(k) clearance (Photo courtesy of Ad Astra Diagnostics)

First Rapid-Result Hematology Analyzer Reports Measures of Infection and Severity at POC

Sepsis, a critical medical condition that arises as an extreme response to infection, poses a significant health threat. It occurs when an infection triggers a widespread inflammatory response in the body.... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: PointCheck is the world’s first device for non-invasive white cell monitoring (Photo courtesy of Leuko Labs)

World’s First Portable, Non-Invasive WBC Monitoring Device to Eliminate Need for Blood Draw

One of the toughest challenges for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy is experiencing a low count of white blood cells, also known as neutropenia. These cells play a crucial role in warding off infections.... Read more

Microbiology

view channel
Image: Current testing methods for antibiotic susceptibility rely on growing bacterial colonies in the presence of antibiotics (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Rapid Antimicrobial Susceptibility Test Returns Results within 30 Minutes

In 2019, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) was responsible for the deaths of approximately 1.3 million individuals. The conventional approach for testing antimicrobial susceptibility involves cultivating... Read more

Technology

view channel
Image: Made-to-order diagnostic tests may soon be on the horizon (Photo courtesy of McGill University)

Breakthrough in Diagnostic Technology Could Make On-The-Spot Testing Widely Accessible

Home testing gained significant importance during the COVID-19 pandemic, yet the availability of rapid tests is limited, and most of them can only drive one liquid across the strip, leading to continued... Read more

Industry

view channel
Image: The acquisition significantly expands Medix Biochemica’s portfolio of IVD raw materials (Photo courtesy of ViroStat)

Medix Biochemica Acquires US-Based ViroStat to Expand Infectious Diseases Antibody Offering

Medix Biochemica (Espoo, Finland), a supplier of critical raw materials to the in vitro diagnostics (IVD) industry, has acquired ViroStat LLC (Portland, ME, USA), a provider of infectious disease antibodies... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2023 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.