Digital tissue image test to predict prostate cancer recurrence risk
Prognostic and Predictive Digital Tissue Image Assay for Prostate Cancer
A new digital image-based test that uses tumor tissue slides to help predict which men with prostate cancer are more likely to have their cancer come back after surgery or radiation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11191409 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses scanned microscope images of prostate tumor tissue and computerized analysis to measure gland shape and pattern features. Those image features are combined with clinical data like PSA to produce an Integrated Risk Score (IRiS) that sorts patients into higher- and lower-risk groups for biochemical recurrence. The aim is to identify men who may benefit from additional (adjuvant) therapy after surgery or radiation and to spare low-risk men from unnecessary treatment. The work uses patient tissue samples and follow-up records from multiple hospitals.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Men with prostate cancer who have had radical prostatectomy or radiation and whose tumor tissue slides and follow-up data are available would be the best candidates.
Not a fit: Patients without available tumor tissue samples, those with widespread metastatic disease at diagnosis, or people not treated with curative surgery or radiation are unlikely to benefit from this prognostic test.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If accurate, this test could help doctors personalize post-surgery care by identifying patients who need extra therapy and sparing others from unnecessary treatment.
How similar studies have performed: Other molecular prognostic tests such as the Decipher score have shown clinical usefulness, and the investigators' prior image-based IRiS classifier classified over 900 patients with statistically significant differences in recurrence risk.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Emory University — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Madabhushi, Anant — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Madabhushi, Anant
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.