Additive Multiple Labelling Cytochemistry - a novel method for advanced cancer in vitro diagnostics
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | MEDETECT AB - MEDETECT AB, Lund |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 1 397 782 |
| Project duration | January 2016 - December 2017 |
| Status | Completed |
Purpose and goal
The overall project goal was to introduce a novel Medetect-generated technique (AMLC) for multiplex imaging into the cancer research field and test its potential for improved disease understanding and diagnosis. Several specific project aims were met including a successful proof-of-concept study for generating robust and high quality multiplex histomic data from large clinical cohorts (>450 patients and >900 core biopsies) and routine cancer tissue samples.
Expected results and effects
The successfully generated >600 GB histomic raw data revealed, after advanced statistical analysis and deep learning approaches, an overwhelming disease heterogeneity and the need for improved disease stratification to extract prognostic histomic parameters. The project has also generated a novel analytical framework for applied target validation and predicting patient response to current and emerging anti-cancer drugs.
Planned approach and implementation
As shown by this project our novel technique has the capacity to generate robust histomic data on detailed cell patterns in cancer tissues. Automatically generated data include detailed information of high-resolution spatial arrangement of tumor cells and all surrounding major structural or infiltrating immune cell populations and how cell content relate to clinical parameters. The possibility to use this type of data for further improved diagnosis, or as a companion drug tool, will be evaluated in future spin-off projects.