ANTWERP – The laboratory for tissue research (pathology) of Hospital Network Antwerp (ZNA) and GZA Hospitals is the first in the Benelux to use artificial intelligence (AI) in the fight against cancer. Smart software supports pathologists in the diagnosis of millions of tumor cells. This concerns studies into the type of tumor and whether this tumor is sensitive to certain therapies.
The AI software analyzes the tissue sample and guides the pathologist to areas that may require additional investigation. This is done, for example, by determining growth patterns of the tumor or by counting cancer cells precisely instead of estimating by eye. This allows the doctor to confirm the diagnosis more quickly and with better substantiation. Thanks to the support with AI, the patient knows the results of the examination more quickly, and the treatment can start earlier.
The computer and the smart algorithm give the pathologist, the specialist who examines tissues and cells, such as tumours, an extra pair of digital eyes, as it were. For breast and prostate tumors, a powerful computer uses scanned images of the tumour. The software calculates the proportion of affected cells and also highlights certain zones that may require additional testing. In this way, the software guides the doctor to areas of interest with well-defined characteristics. An antibody is a protein that the body’s immune system produces to fight off pathogens. In the context of cancer, they are used to demonstrate specific proteins that may or may not be native to certain tumor cells. Demonstrating the presence or absence of these proteins helps the pathologist to determine the tumor type or to predict the response to certain therapies. This concerns, for example, cells that grow abnormally or respond to antibodies.
A different algorithm is then suitable, for example, for the analysis of all tumors in which immunotherapy can make a difference. In this therapy, the cancer patient receives medicines to strengthen the functioning of the immune system. This causes the immune system to recognize, clean up and destroy the cancer cells. A tissue sample from a tumor contains millions of cells, and the lab examines several samples. The human eye obviously cannot count those millions of cells, but the smart software can. The software also calculates the number of cells that are sensitive to certain medication. This allows the doctor to assess whether the patient will benefit from a specific therapy.
Thanks to the smart software, the assessment is much faster and more precise. In addition, the chance that microscopic deviations are overlooked is reduced. Pathologist Sabine Declercq, medical coordinator of the Pathological Anatomy laboratory: ‘The combination of artificial intelligence with the experience of the pathologist results in more precise diagnoses. The software analyzes images in exactly the same way each time. In addition, we arrive at a diagnosis more quickly. A computer never gets tired. Because the software can work around the clock, pathologists have more time to examine and diagnose more complex tumours. The third advantage of this smart software is that ZNA and GZA Hospitals can now carry out certain tests in their own lab. In this way, the patient knows more quickly where he or she stands, and the cancer specialists can start a therapy more quickly. In practice, this can save a patient up to a week in time.’ The anatomical pathology lab of ZNA and GZA Hospitals is aiming for 1,150 samples per year in the start-up phase and wants to increase that to 15,000 samples per year by 2024. This mainly concerns samples of tumors in the stomach, breast, prostate and lungs. It is important that the pathologist remains in control of the diagnosis. (EM / Photo ZNA)
