Day 1 :
Keynote Forum
Diana Anderson
University of Bradford,UK
Keynote: Sensitivity and Specificity of the Empirical Lymphocyte Genome Sensitivity (LGS) Assay: Implications for Improving Cancer Diagnostics
Time : 9:40-10:15
Biography:
Professor Anderson holds the Established Chair in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Bradford. She obtained her first degree in the University of Wales and second degrees in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Manchester. She has an H index of 57, 450+ peer-reviewed papers, 8 books, has successfully supervised 26 PhDs, and been a member of editorial boards of 10 international journals. She has been or is Editor in Chief of a book Series on toxicology for J.Wiley and sons and the Royal Society of Chemistry respectively. She gives key note addresses at various international meetings. She is a consultant for many international organisations, such as the WHO, NATO, TWAS, UNIDO and the OECD
Abstract:
Background: This study examined differences in the sensitivity to genomic damage of lymphocytes derived from cancer patients, pre/suspect cancer patients and normal healthy volunteers. rnrnMethods: We investigated responses from 208 individuals: 20 melanoma, 34 colon cancer, 4 lung cancer patients (58); 18 suspect melanoma, 28 polyposis, 10 COPD patients (56) and 94 healthy volunteers. The natural logarithm of the Olive tail moment was plotted for exposure to UVA through 5 different agar depths (100 cell measurements/depth) and analysed using a repeated measures regression model.rnrnFindings: Genomic damage in lymphocytes from cancer patient samples plateaued and did not decrease as UVA intensity decreased. In comparison, lymphocyte response patterns for healthy individuals returned towards control values as UVA intensity decreased. The responses for samples from pre/suspected cancers patients were intermediate. All cancers tested exhibited comparable responses. Results indicated that lymphocyte sensitivity was cancer status dependant, thus an analyses of Receiver Operating Characteristic curves was undertaken on 208 individuals. The mean log Olive tail moments, for all cancers plus pre/suspected-cancer versus controls gave a value for the area under the curve of 0.87 (95% CI: 0.82, 0.92); for cancer versus pre/suspected-cancer plus controls the value was 0.89 (95% CI: 0.83, 0.95); and for cancer alone versus controls alone (excluding pre/suspected-cancer), the value was 0•93 (95%CI: 0.88, 0.98). For all 3 values, p<0.001. Interpretation: Results indicated that characterisation of differences in lymphocyte sensitivity to UVA enabled discrimination between cancer patients, pre/suspect cancer patients and healthy volunteers. This relationship could be used in an assay that functions as a stand-alone test or as a possible adjunct to other tests as part of a detection programme for cancer. Biography Professor Anderson holds the Established Chair in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Bradford. She obtained her first degree in the University of Wales and second degrees in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Manchester. She has an H index of 57, 450+ peer-reviewed papers, 8 books, has successfully supervised 26 PhDs, and been a member of editorial boards of 10 international journals. She has been or is Editor in Chief of a book Series on toxicology for J.Wiley and sons and the Royal Society of Chemistry respectively. She gives key note addresses at various international meetings. She is a consultant for many international organisations, such as the WHO, NATO, TWAS, UNIDO and the OECDrn
Keynote Forum
Martin Kristensson
Visiopharm ,Denmark
Keynote: Optimizing HER2 assessment in breast cancer - application of automated image analysis
Time : 10:15- 10:50
Biography:
Martin has been with Visio pharm since 2011 where he currently works as the VP, Technical Sales for Europe. He received his M.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering from the Technical University of Denmark in 2011, specializing in Signal and Model based Diagnostics, combined with Image Diagnostics and Radiation Physics. In 2014, he became a certified Project Manager at Copenhagen Business Academy. He has provided numerous research algorithms to researchers, enabling them to create quantitative histology data and publish papers, and continuously supports pathology laboratories in the transition into digital pathology.
Abstract:
Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is a receptor for circulating growth factor, stimulating uncontrolled cell proliferation. Trastuzumab reacts with HER2 and arrests the cells in the G1 phase. Immune system-directed cell killing is probably also involved in the anti-cancer effect. In breast cancer, overexpression of HER2 occurs in 15%, and analysis of HER2 expression is therefore pivotal for treatment decision. In a cohort of 462 patients, stained with Roche’s ready-to-use HER2 test. The HER2-CONNECT algorithm evaluates the IHC staining reaction of HER2, based on cell membrane connectivity. The connectivity translates into the classic diagnostic score for HER2 expression (0, 1+, 2+ or 3+) in agreement with the ASCO/CAP guidelines. The automated reading was compared to manual reading, and for the borderline (2+) to manual reading of the HER2 gene expression on fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Manual reading demonstrated a sensitivity of 85.0% and a specificity of 86.0% with 14.1% inconclusive samples. Using HER2-CONNECT, sensitivity increased to 97.6% and specificity to 95.5%. Less than 4.5% of the cases were deemed inconclusive. Total agreement when comparing HER2-CONNECT with manual IHC supplemented by FISH in borderline cases was 92.8%. Using the HER2-CONNECT digital image analysis algorithm based on IHC detection of HER2 protein expression on tumour cell membranes, less than 4.5% of the cases were inconclusive whether overexpressed or not. Compared to manual reading, the need for supplementary FISH testing is reduced by 67.7%. In the routine diagnostic setting, this would have significant impact on cost reduction and turn-around-time.