Study finds how artificial intelligence with infrared imaging improves colon cancer therapy

Bochum: Over the last several years, tremendous progress in the field of therapy alternatives has substantially enhanced the prospects of cures for individuals with colon cancer.

However, these novel techniques, such as immunotherapies, necessitate precise diagnosis in order to be personalised to the individual. Researchers at Ruhr University Bochum's Centre for Protein Diagnostics PRODI are utilising artificial intelligence in conjunction with infrared imaging to optimise colon cancer therapy for individual patients. The label-free, automated technology can be used to supplement existing pathology analyses.

The team led by Professor Klaus Gerwert and the findings of the study were published in the European Journal of Cancer. Deep insights into human tissue within one hour

The PRODI team has been developing a new digital imaging method over the last years: the so-called label-free infrared (IR) imaging measures the genomic and proteomic composition of the examined tissue, i.e. provides molecular information based on the infrared spectra.

This information is decoded with the help of artificial intelligence and displayed as false-colour images. To do this, the researchers use image analysis methods from the field of deep learning.

In cooperation with clinical partners, the PRODI team was able to show that the use of deep neural networks makes it possible to reliably determine the so-called microsatellite status, a prognostically and therapeutically relevant parameter, in colon cancer. In this process, the tissue sample goes through a standardised, user-independent, automated process and enables a spatially resolved differential classification of the tumour within one hour.

Indication of the effectiveness of therapies

In classical diagnostics, microsatellite status is determined either by complex immunostaining of various proteins or by DNA analysis. "15 to 20 per cent of colon cancer patients show microsatellite instability in the tumour tissue," says Professor Andrea Tannapfel, head of the Institute of Pathology at Ruhr University. "This instability is a positive biomarker indicating that immunotherapy will be effective."

With the ever-improving therapy options, the fast and uncomplicated determination of such biomarkers is also becoming more and more important. Based on IR microscopic data, neuronal networks were modified, optimised, and trained at PRODI to establish label-free diagnostics. Unlike immunostaining, this approach does not require dyes and is significantly faster than DNA analysis.

"We were able to show that the accuracy of IR imaging for determining microsatellite status comes close to the most common method used in the clinic, immunostaining," says PhD student Stephanie Schorner. "Through constant further development and optimisation of the method, we expect a further increase in accuracy," adds Dr. Frederik Grosseruschkamp.