Computer 'pathologist' may assess cancer survival

Extreme Tech reports.

The computer system, called C-Path (Computational Pathologist), even went one step further and identified previously undiscovered cellular structures that can be used by computers and humans alike to improve the diagnosis and prognosis of breast cancer patients in the future.

According to CMIO, to train C-Path, the researchers used existing tissue samples taken from patients whose prognosis was known. The computers measured various tumour structures to use that information to predict patient survival. By comparing results against the known data, the computers adapted their models to better predict survival, and gradually figured out what features of the cancers matter most, and which matter less in predicting survival.

USA Today reports that, in a commentary accompanying the study, Dr David Rimm, professor of pathology at Yale University School of Medicine, called the research "landmark" work.

"C-Path potentially is the first truly objective, quantitative grading system for cancerous tissue and its surrounding stroma (connective tissue)," he writes.

However, Rimm and other experts agreed that further research is needed. "This isn't quite ready for prime time," he said.