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Automated Analysis of Proliferating Cells Spatial Organisation Predicts Prognosis in Lung Neuroendocrine Neoplasms.
- Source :
-
Cancers [Cancers (Basel)] 2021 Sep 29; Vol. 13 (19). Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Sep 29. - Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- Lung neuroendocrine neoplasms (lung NENs) are categorised by morphology, defining a classification sometimes unable to reflect ultimate clinical outcome. Subjectivity and poor reproducibility characterise diagnosis and prognosis assessment of all NENs. Here, we propose a machine learning framework for tumour prognosis assessment based on a quantitative, automated and repeatable evaluation of the spatial distribution of cells immunohistochemically positive for the proliferation marker Ki-67, performed on the entire extent of high-resolution whole slide images. Combining features from the fields of graph theory, fractality analysis, stochastic geometry and information theory, we describe the topology of replicating cells and predict prognosis in a histology-independent way. We demonstrate how our approach outperforms the well-recognised prognostic role of Ki-67 Labelling Index on a multi-centre dataset comprising the most controversial lung NENs. Moreover, we show that our system identifies arrangement patterns in the cells positive for Ki-67 that appear independently of tumour subtyping. Strikingly, the subset of these features whose presence is also independent of the value of the Labelling Index and the density of Ki-67-positive cells prove to be especially relevant in discerning prognostic classes. These findings disclose a possible path for the future of grading and classification of NENs.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 2072-6694
- Volume :
- 13
- Issue :
- 19
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Cancers
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 34638359
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers13194875