EH 4_2015

Coming Autumn 2015 NanoZoomer Whole Slide Scanner: A decade strong and still innovating www.nanozoomer.com Be the first to see our exciting new product on stand number 16 at ECP 2015 Nanozoomer Teazer A5_AW_Layout 1 06/08/2015 10:48 Page 1 www.healthcare-in-europe.com 25DIGITAL PATHOLOGY Dr Peter Caie is a Senior Research Fellow in Digital and Systems Pathology, at the University of St Andrews, and he leads the Systems and Quantitative Pathology team alongside Professor David Harrison. His scientific expertise lies in cellular and tissue imaging, and his special interest is systems, quantitative and digital pathology. Big data histopathology Unlocking imaging potential Report: Mark Nicholls Automated image analysis shows sig- nificant potential within histopa- thology to help identify novel and subtle prognostic features. UK expert Dr Peter Caie also believes such image analysis can turn aspects of histopathology from a traditionally semi-quantitative field into a fully quantifiable and stand- ardised science. However, he also points out that challenges remain before the full potential is seen within digital pathology. During the Digital Pathology Conference to be held this December in London, Caie will outline the advances in the ‘Profiling Big Data Histopathology through Image Analysis’ session. As a Senior Research Fellow working on Digital and Systems Pathology at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, Dr Caie’s aim is to demonstrate how complex image analysis of digital pathology specimens can now create robust hierarchical ‘big data’. Ahead of the conference, he told European Hospital: ‘I will be outlin- ing how automated image analysis can not only quantify set histopatho- logical features in a standardised and reproducible manner - such as tumour buds, lympho-vascular inva- sion, lymphatic vessel density and tumour nuclear morphometry - but also can be utilised as an investi- gative tool to identify novel prog- nostic or predictive features that have previously gone unnoticed or unreported.’ Caie explained that modern image analysis of digital pathology slides can now also create big data sets associated with multiple export parameters from computer segment- ed and classified objects within the digital tissue section. These can be parameters asso- ciated with set histopathological features - such as their shape and extent - or features captured in an unbiased manner, where every segmentable and visible object is captured and morphometric, tex- ture, number of objects and spatial information (such as heterogeneity, distribution, location, neighbouring to other objects) is extracted. ‘That big data must then be mined with appropriate bioinformatics to identify the significant prognostic or predictive parameters, or combi- nation of parameters, to stratify the patient population in question,’ he pointed out. This emerging field is termed ‘Tissue Phenomics’, a phrase first coined by Gerd Binnig, Nobel Prize winner and founder of the image analysis software company Definiens. However, Caie acknowl- edges that there are multiple chal- lenges in digital pathology and image analysis. Reproducibility and validation are key to standardised quality big data histopathology, he said, and stressed that the image analysis algorithms themselves must be of a high enough quality to deal with complex and heterogeneous tissue, whereas simple algorithms may report back false results or clas- sifications due to heterogeneous cell populations. ‘Similarly when quantifying histo- pathological features in the complex tumour microenvironment, image analysis may also report false posi- tives or inaccurate parameters due to non-specific staining or auto- fluorescence within the tissue,’ he added. Other challenges include the need for fast IT infrastructure to enable digital pathology to be routinely used, as well as large and secure data stores to archive the digi- tal specimens and their associated analysis. Another challenge, he said, is for the traditional field of pathology to accept the novel field of image analysis and ‘tissue phenomics’ and allow it to be implemented into rou- tine clinical use. Big data pathology has a range of benefits for clinicians and patients. Caie: “Image analysis allows repro- ducible and standardised reporting of biomarkers or histopathological features that negate observer vari- ability. It can also free up a patholo- gists time to concentrate on com- plex cases if the quantification of histopathological features in more routine cases becomes automated.’ Image analysis can quantify fluo- rescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) and proteins across a dynamic range with the application of fluorescence, leading to more accurate patient results, as big data pathology can identify subtle or complex patterns within the tissue section which may be difficult to reproducibly identify by eye. ‘Therefore,’ Caie pointed out, ‘ it can provide the clinician with novel and significant new biomarkers to aid in clinical decision making, and the patient can receive a more per- sonalised and informed answer to their individual case.’ The next step in big data histopa- thology, he suggests, is to validate the technology in large retrospec- tive and prospective clinical trials to demonstrate its full potential. Big data histopathology will increase in power as technology evolves. This includes multiplexing many biomarkers, which can be used to map entire pathways within a single cell. Caie concludes: ‘Co-registering multi-omics, such as single cell transcriptomics, genomics and his- topathological data, with protein biomarkers onto the same tissue section will also make for a more informative and powerful big data pathology, which again will provide insight into disease progression and biomarkers for predictive studies and drug trials.’ Date for the diary 25-28 May. Berlin, Germany 13th European Congress on Digital Pathology www.digitalpathology2016.org Methodological Changes in microscopic techniques, imaging, molecular pathology, genetics and bioinformatics are the driv- ers of digital pathology. The programm of the ECDP in Paris last year with insights in several new technologies will find its continuation in Berlin. Nanozoomer Teazer A5_AW_Layout 106/08/201510:48 Page 1

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