Digitise pathology to unlock the potential of precision medicine
Summary
Pathology is being transformed by digital technologies, artificial intelligence and advances in precision medicine. These innovations address many of the field’s most pressing challenges, including a global shortage of pathologists, rising cancer cases, and the critical need for faster, more accurate diagnostics.- Author Company: Leica Biosystems
- Author Name: Dr. Rob Monroe, Chief Medical Officer for Leica Biosystems and Chief Scientific Officer, Oncology, for Danaher Diagnostics.
- Author Website: https://www2.leicabiosystems.com/uk/ppc-hi-uk-en-tissue_processors-nov21/?utm_source=bing&utm_term=automated%20tissue%20processor&matchtype=b&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=ppc-hi-uk-en-tissue_processors&utm_content=&accountregion=eu-uk&msclkid=dcb3fbbf210b1fe774fc9c5484c2496f
Companion diagnostics support the shift toward precision medicine by using biomarker analysis to match patients to the most effective treatments. Recent advances in computational pathology have streamlined workflows for review of key CDx assays for biomarkers like HER2 and PD-L1 while simultaneously improving accuracy and reproducibility. In the coming years, multiplex assays, capable of analyzing multiple biomarkers simultaneously, are poised to optimize selection of patients for the next generation of oncology therapies including antibody drug conjugates and multi-specific antibodies.
The pathologist shortage and growing demand for timely cancer diagnoses are driving the market towards computational pathology and AI-powered solutions. These technologies assist pathologists in a number of impactful ways including prioritization of cases; identification of regions of interest; detection of rare events; and generation of reports, enabling pathologists to manage a high volume of cases with greater diagnostic accuracy.
Despite the benefits to pathologists of digital pathology, the costs of digitization and storage remain a significant barrier. Without reimbursement frameworks in place, many healthcare providers hesitate to make an upfront investment. Leica Biosystems is working with customers and industry consortia like the Digital Pathology Association to demonstrate the long-term value of digital pathology in optimizing workflows, driving efficiencies, and increasing the accuracy of diagnosis. A further challenge is the integration of digital pathology solutions with existing laboratory information systems and electronic medical records. This challenge can be overcome with interoperable solutions like DICOM image formats and user-friendly APIs that streamline the integration of digital pathology into healthcare workflows.
Rising cancer rates and the development of next generation therapies are creating unprecedented demand for novel diagnostic solutions that will leverage AI and computational pathology. In the next decade, these AI-enabled companion diagnostics will play a critical role in unlocking the tremendous potential of these therapies to transform cancer care and extend patients’ lives.
