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Li J, Dong P, Wang X, Zhang J, Zhao M, Shen H, Cai L, He J, Han M, Miao J, Liu H, Yang W, Han X, Liu Y. Artificial intelligence enhances whole-slide interpretation of PD-L1 CPS in triple-negative breast cancer: A multi-institutional ring study. Histopathology 2024; 85:451-467. [PMID: 38747491 DOI: 10.1111/his.15205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 08/09/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Evaluation of the programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) combined positive score (CPS) is vital to predict the efficacy of the immunotherapy in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), but pathologists show substantial variability in the consistency and accuracy of the interpretation. It is of great importance to establish an objective and effective method which is highly repeatable. METHODS We proposed a model in a deep learning-based framework, which at the patch level incorporated cell analysis and tissue region analysis, followed by the whole-slide level fusion of patch results. Three rounds of ring studies (RSs) were conducted. Twenty-one pathologists of different levels from four institutions evaluated the PD-L1 CPS in TNBC specimens as continuous scores by visual assessment and our artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted method. RESULTS In the visual assessment, the interpretation results of PD-L1 (Dako 22C3) CPS by different levels of pathologists have significant differences and showed weak consistency. Using AI-assisted interpretation, there were no significant differences between all pathologists (P = 0.43), and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) value was increased from 0.618 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.524-0.719] to 0.931 (95% CI = 0.902-0.955). The accuracy of interpretation result is further improved to 0.919 (95% CI = 0.886-0.947). Acceptance of AI results by junior pathologists was the highest among all levels, and 80% of the AI results were accepted overall. CONCLUSION With the help of the AI-assisted diagnostic method, different levels of pathologists achieved excellent consistency and repeatability in the interpretation of PD-L1 (Dako 22C3) CPS. Our AI-assisted diagnostic approach was proved to strengthen the consistency and repeatability in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinze Li
- Department of Pathology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Pei Dong
- AI Lab, Tencent, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Xinran Wang
- Department of Pathology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- AI Lab, Tencent, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Meng Zhao
- Department of Pathology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | | | - Lijing Cai
- Department of Pathology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Jiankun He
- Department of Pathology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Mengxue Han
- Department of Pathology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Jiaxian Miao
- Department of Pathology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Hongbo Liu
- Department of Pathology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Wei Yang
- AI Lab, Tencent, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiao Han
- AI Lab, Tencent, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yueping Liu
- Department of Pathology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
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Sakashita M, Motoi N, Yamamoto G, Gambe E, Suzuki M, Yoshida Y, Watanabe SI, Takazawa Y, Aoki K, Ochiai A, Sakashita S. An algorithm-based technique for counting mitochondria in cells using immunohistochemical staining of formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded sections. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2024; 150:172. [PMID: 38565653 PMCID: PMC10987345 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-024-05653-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Visualizing mitochondria in cancer cells from human pathological specimens may improve our understanding of cancer biology. However, using immunohistochemistry to evaluate mitochondria remains difficult because almost all cells contain mitochondria and the number of mitochondria per cell may have important effects on mitochondrial function. Herein, we established an objective system (Mito-score) for evaluating mitochondria using machine-based processing of hue, saturation, and value color spaces. METHODS The Mito-score was defined as the number of COX4 (mitochondrial inner membrane) immunohistochemistry-positive pixels divided by the number of nuclei per cell. The system was validated using four lung cancer cell lines, normal tissues, and lung cancer tissues (199 cases). RESULTS The Mito-score correlated with MitoTracker, a fluorescent dye used to selectively label and visualize mitochondria within cells under a microscope (R2 = 0.68) and with the number of mitochondria counted using electron microscopy (R2 = 0.79). Histologically, the Mito-score of small cell carcinoma (57.25) was significantly lower than that of adenocarcinoma (147.5, p < 0.0001), squamous cell carcinoma (120.6, p = 0.0004), and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (111.8, p = 0.002). CONCLUSION The Mito-score method enables the analysis of the mitochondrial status of human formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens and may provide insights into the metabolic status of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mai Sakashita
- Division of Biomarker Discovery, Exploratory Oncology Research and Clinical Trial Center, National Cancer Center, Chiba, Japan
- Department of Pathology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Noriko Motoi
- Department of Pathology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
- Division of Genome Biology, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Gaku Yamamoto
- Division of Translational Genomics, Exploratory Oncology Research and Clinical Trial Center, National Cancer Center, Kashiwa, Japan
| | - Emi Gambe
- Department of Pathology, Toranomon Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Yukihiro Yoshida
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shun-Ichi Watanabe
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Kazunori Aoki
- Department of Immune Medicine, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Atsushi Ochiai
- Research Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shingo Sakashita
- Division of Pathology, Exploratory Oncology Research and Clinical Trial Center, National Cancer Center, 6-5-1, Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa-Shi, Chiba, 277-8577, Japan.
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Wang X, He J, Li J, Wu C, Yue M, Niu S, Jia Y, Jia Z, Cai L, Liu Y. Concordance of assessments of four PD-L1 immunohistochemical assays in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2024; 150:43. [PMID: 38280970 PMCID: PMC10821831 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-023-05595-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Given real-world limitations in programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) testing, concordance studies between PD-L1 assays are needed. We undertook comparisons of PD-L1 assays (DAKO22C3, Ventana SP263, Ventana SP142, E1L3N) among observers in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) to provide information on the analytical and clinical comparability of four PD-L1 IHC assays. METHODS Paraffin embedded samples of 50 cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were obtained, satined with all four PD-L1 assays. PD-L1 was evaluated by 68 pathologists from 19 different hospitals. PD-L1 expression was assessed for combined positive score (CPS). RESULTS The expression sensitivity of SP263 was the highest in ESCC, followed by 22C3, E1L3N and SP142. Taking CPS 10 as the critical value, inter-observer concordance for CPS scores among 68 physicians was assessed for the 22C3, SP263, SP142, and E1L3N assays, yielding values of 0.777, 0.790, 0.758, and 0.782, respectively. In the comparison between assays, the overall CPS scores concordance rates between 22C3 and SP263, SP142, and E1L3N were 0.896, 0.833, and 0.853, respectively. 22C3 and SP263 have high concordance, with OPA of 0.896, while E1L3N and SP142 have the highest concordance, with OPA of 0.908. CONCLUSION In ESCC, the concordance of PD-L1 evaluation among observers is good, and the immune cell score is still an important factor affecting the concordance of interpretation among observers. Cases near the specific threshold are still the difficult problem of interpretation. SP263 had the highest CPS score of the four assays. SP263 cannot identify all 22C3 positive cases, but had good concordance with 22C3.E1L3N and SP142 showed high concordance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinran Wang
- Department of Pathology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, No. 12 Jiankang Road, Shijiazhuang, 050011, Hebei, China
| | - Jiankun He
- Department of Pathology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, No. 12 Jiankang Road, Shijiazhuang, 050011, Hebei, China
| | - Jinze Li
- Department of Pathology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, No. 12 Jiankang Road, Shijiazhuang, 050011, Hebei, China
| | - Chun Wu
- Department of Pathology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, No. 12 Jiankang Road, Shijiazhuang, 050011, Hebei, China
| | - Meng Yue
- Department of Pathology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, No. 12 Jiankang Road, Shijiazhuang, 050011, Hebei, China
| | - Shuyao Niu
- Department of Pathology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, No. 12 Jiankang Road, Shijiazhuang, 050011, Hebei, China
| | - Ying Jia
- Department of Pathology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, No. 12 Jiankang Road, Shijiazhuang, 050011, Hebei, China
| | - Zhanli Jia
- Department of Pathology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, No. 12 Jiankang Road, Shijiazhuang, 050011, Hebei, China
| | - Lijing Cai
- Department of Pathology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, No. 12 Jiankang Road, Shijiazhuang, 050011, Hebei, China
| | - Yueping Liu
- Department of Pathology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, No. 12 Jiankang Road, Shijiazhuang, 050011, Hebei, China.
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Ligero M, Serna G, El Nahhas OS, Sansano I, Mauchanski S, Viaplana C, Calderaro J, Toledo RA, Dienstmann R, Vanguri RS, Sauter JL, Sanchez-Vega F, Shah SP, Ramón y Cajal S, Garralda E, Nuciforo P, Perez-Lopez R, Kather JN. Weakly Supervised Deep Learning Predicts Immunotherapy Response in Solid Tumors Based on PD-L1 Expression. CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2024; 4:92-102. [PMID: 38126740 PMCID: PMC10782919 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-23-0287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) IHC is the most commonly used biomarker for immunotherapy response. However, quantification of PD-L1 status in pathology slides is challenging. Neither manual quantification nor a computer-based mimicking of manual readouts is perfectly reproducible, and the predictive performance of both approaches regarding immunotherapy response is limited. In this study, we developed a deep learning (DL) method to predict PD-L1 status directly from raw IHC image data, without explicit intermediary steps such as cell detection or pigment quantification. We trained the weakly supervised model on PD-L1-stained slides from the non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)-Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) cohort (N = 233) and validated it on the pan-cancer-Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO) cohort (N = 108). We also investigated the performance of the model to predict response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in terms of progression-free survival. In the pan-cancer-VHIO cohort, the performance was compared with tumor proportion score (TPS) and combined positive score (CPS). The DL model showed good performance in predicting PD-L1 expression (TPS ≥ 1%) in both NSCLC-MSK and pan-cancer-VHIO cohort (AUC 0.88 ± 0.06 and 0.80 ± 0.03, respectively). The predicted PD-L1 status showed an improved association with response to ICIs [HR: 1.5 (95% confidence interval: 1-2.3), P = 0.049] compared with TPS [HR: 1.4 (0.96-2.2), P = 0.082] and CPS [HR: 1.2 (0.79-1.9), P = 0.386]. Notably, our explainability analysis showed that the model does not just look at the amount of brown pigment in the IHC slides, but also considers morphologic factors such as lymphocyte conglomerates. Overall, end-to-end weakly supervised DL shows potential for improving patient stratification for cancer immunotherapy by analyzing PD-L1 IHC, holistically integrating morphology and PD-L1 staining intensity. SIGNIFICANCE The weakly supervised DL model to predict PD-L1 status from raw IHC data, integrating tumor staining intensity and morphology, enables enhanced patient stratification in cancer immunotherapy compared with traditional pathologist assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Ligero
- Radiomics Group, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Garazi Serna
- Molecular Oncology Group, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Omar S.M. El Nahhas
- Else Kroener Fresenius Center for Digital Health, Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Irene Sansano
- Pathology Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital (VHUH), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Siarhei Mauchanski
- Molecular Oncology Group, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Viaplana
- Oncology Data Science (ODysSey) Group, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Julien Calderaro
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Département de Pathologie, CHU Henri Mondor, Créteil, France
- Université Paris-Est Créteil, Faculté de Médecine, Créteil, France
| | - Rodrigo A. Toledo
- Biomakers and Clonal Dynamics Group, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rodrigo Dienstmann
- Oncology Data Science (ODysSey) Group, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rami S. Vanguri
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Jennifer L. Sauter
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | | | - Sohrab P. Shah
- Computational Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | | | - Elena Garralda
- Department of Medical Oncology, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital and Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paolo Nuciforo
- Molecular Oncology Group, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raquel Perez-Lopez
- Radiomics Group, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jakob Nikolas Kather
- Else Kroener Fresenius Center for Digital Health, Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Pathology and Data Analytics, Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James's, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
- Department of Medicine I, University Hospital Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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5
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Zdrenka M, Kowalewski A, Ahmadi N, Sadiqi RU, Chmura Ł, Borowczak J, Maniewski M, Szylberg Ł. Refining PD-1/PD-L1 assessment for biomarker-guided immunotherapy: A review. BIOMOLECULES & BIOMEDICINE 2024; 24:14-29. [PMID: 37877810 PMCID: PMC10787614 DOI: 10.17305/bb.2023.9265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
Anti-programmed cell death ligand 1 (anti-PD-L1) immunotherapy is an increasingly crucial in cancer treatment. To date, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has approved four PD-L1 immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining protocols, commercially available in the form of "kits", facilitating testing for PD-L1 expression. These kits comprise four PD-L1 antibodies on two separate IHC platforms, each utilizing distinct, non-interchangeable scoring systems. Several factors, including tumor heterogeneity and the size of the tissue specimens assessed, can lead to PD-L1 status misclassification, potentially hindering the initiation of therapy. Therefore, the development of more accurate predictive biomarkers to distinguish between responders and non-responders prior to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy warrants further research. Achieving this goal necessitates refining sampling criteria, enhancing current methods of PD-L1 detection, and deepening our understanding of the impact of additional biomarkers. In this article, we review potential solutions to improve the predictive accuracy of PD-L1 assessment in order to more precisely anticipate patients' responses to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy, monitor disease progression and predict clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marek Zdrenka
- Department of Tumor Pathology and Pathomorphology, Oncology Centre-Prof. Franciszek Łukaszczyk Memorial Hospital, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Adam Kowalewski
- Department of Tumor Pathology and Pathomorphology, Oncology Centre-Prof. Franciszek Łukaszczyk Memorial Hospital, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Navid Ahmadi
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Royal Papworth Hospital, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Łukasz Chmura
- Department of Pathomorphology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Jędrzej Borowczak
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Oncology, Chair of Pathomorphology and Clinical Placentology, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Mateusz Maniewski
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Oncology, Chair of Pathomorphology and Clinical Placentology, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Łukasz Szylberg
- Department of Tumor Pathology and Pathomorphology, Oncology Centre-Prof. Franciszek Łukaszczyk Memorial Hospital, Bydgoszcz, Poland
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Oncology, Chair of Pathomorphology and Clinical Placentology, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Bydgoszcz, Poland
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Ahn JS, Shin S, Yang SA, Park EK, Kim KH, Cho SI, Ock CY, Kim S. Artificial Intelligence in Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Personalized Medicine. J Breast Cancer 2023; 26:405-435. [PMID: 37926067 PMCID: PMC10625863 DOI: 10.4048/jbc.2023.26.e45] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is a significant cause of cancer-related mortality in women worldwide. Early and precise diagnosis is crucial, and clinical outcomes can be markedly enhanced. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has ushered in a new era, notably in image analysis, paving the way for major advancements in breast cancer diagnosis and individualized treatment regimens. In the diagnostic workflow for patients with breast cancer, the role of AI encompasses screening, diagnosis, staging, biomarker evaluation, prognostication, and therapeutic response prediction. Although its potential is immense, its complete integration into clinical practice is challenging. Particularly, these challenges include the imperatives for extensive clinical validation, model generalizability, navigating the "black-box" conundrum, and pragmatic considerations of embedding AI into everyday clinical environments. In this review, we comprehensively explored the diverse applications of AI in breast cancer care, underlining its transformative promise and existing impediments. In radiology, we specifically address AI in mammography, tomosynthesis, risk prediction models, and supplementary imaging methods, including magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound. In pathology, our focus is on AI applications for pathologic diagnosis, evaluation of biomarkers, and predictions related to genetic alterations, treatment response, and prognosis in the context of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. Our discussion underscores the transformative potential of AI in breast cancer management and emphasizes the importance of focused research to realize the full spectrum of benefits of AI in patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Seokhwi Kim
- Department of Pathology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ajou University Graduate School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
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7
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Sajjadi E, Frascarelli C, Venetis K, Bonizzi G, Ivanova M, Vago G, Guerini-Rocco E, Fusco N. Computational pathology to improve biomarker testing in breast cancer: how close are we? Eur J Cancer Prev 2023; 32:460-467. [PMID: 37038997 DOI: 10.1097/cej.0000000000000804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
The recent advancements in breast cancer precision medicine have highlighted the urgency for the precise and reproducible characterization of clinically actionable biomarkers. Despite numerous standardization efforts, biomarker testing by conventional methodologies is challenged by several issues such as high inter-observer variabilities, the spatial heterogeneity of biomarkers expression, and technological heterogeneity. In this respect, artificial intelligence-based digital pathology approaches are being increasingly recognized as promising methods for biomarker testing and subsequently improved clinical management. Here, we provide an overview on the most recent advances for artificial intelligence-assisted biomarkers testing in breast cancer, with a particular focus on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, programmed death-ligand 1, phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase catalytic alpha, and estrogen receptor 1. Challenges and solutions for this integrative analysis in pathology laboratories are also provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elham Sajjadi
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan
- Division of Pathology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Frascarelli
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan
- Division of Pathology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppina Bonizzi
- Division of Pathology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Mariia Ivanova
- Division of Pathology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianluca Vago
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan
| | - Elena Guerini-Rocco
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan
- Division of Pathology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Fusco
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan
- Division of Pathology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
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Porta FM, Sajjadi E, Venetis K, Frascarelli C, Cursano G, Guerini-Rocco E, Fusco N, Ivanova M. Immune Biomarkers in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Improving the Predictivity of Current Testing Methods. J Pers Med 2023; 13:1176. [PMID: 37511789 PMCID: PMC10381494 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13071176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) poses a significant challenge in terms of prognosis and disease recurrence. The limited treatment options and the development of resistance to chemotherapy make it particularly difficult to manage these patients. However, recent research has been shifting its focus towards biomarker-based approaches for TNBC, with a particular emphasis on the tumor immune landscape. Immune biomarkers in TNBC are now a subject of great interest due to the presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in these tumors. This characteristic often coincides with the presence of PD-L1 expression on both neoplastic cells and immune cells within the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, a subset of TNBC harbor mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) TNBC, which is frequently accompanied by microsatellite instability (MSI). All of these immune biomarkers hold actionable potential for guiding patient selection in immunotherapy. To fully capitalize on these opportunities, the identification of additional or complementary biomarkers and the implementation of highly customized testing strategies are of paramount importance in TNBC. In this regard, this article aims to provide an overview of the current state of the art in immune-related biomarkers for TNBC. Specifically, it focuses on the various testing methodologies available and sheds light on the immediate future perspectives for patient selection. By delving into the advancements made in understanding the immune landscape of TNBC, this study aims to contribute to the growing body of knowledge in the field. The ultimate goal is to pave the way for the development of more personalized testing strategies, ultimately improving outcomes for TNBC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Maria Porta
- Division of Pathology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Elham Sajjadi
- Division of Pathology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Konstantinos Venetis
- Division of Pathology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Frascarelli
- Division of Pathology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Cursano
- Division of Pathology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Guerini-Rocco
- Division of Pathology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Fusco
- Division of Pathology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Mariia Ivanova
- Division of Pathology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
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9
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Choi S, Kim S. Artificial Intelligence in the Pathology of Gastric Cancer. J Gastric Cancer 2023; 23:410-427. [PMID: 37553129 PMCID: PMC10412971 DOI: 10.5230/jgc.2023.23.e25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have provided novel tools for rapid and precise pathologic diagnosis. The introduction of digital pathology has enabled the acquisition of scanned slide images that are essential for the application of AI. The application of AI for improved pathologic diagnosis includes the error-free detection of potentially negligible lesions, such as a minute focus of metastatic tumor cells in lymph nodes, the accurate diagnosis of potentially controversial histologic findings, such as very well-differentiated carcinomas mimicking normal epithelial tissues, and the pathological subtyping of the cancers. Additionally, the utilization of AI algorithms enables the precise decision of the score of immunohistochemical markers for targeted therapies, such as human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 and programmed death-ligand 1. Studies have revealed that AI assistance can reduce the discordance of interpretation between pathologists and more accurately predict clinical outcomes. Several approaches have been employed to develop novel biomarkers from histologic images using AI. Moreover, AI-assisted analysis of the cancer microenvironment showed that the distribution of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes was related to the response to the immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy, emphasizing its value as a biomarker. As numerous studies have demonstrated the significance of AI-assisted interpretation and biomarker development, the AI-based approach will advance diagnostic pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangjoon Choi
- Department of Pathology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Seokhwi Kim
- Department of Pathology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ajou University Graduate School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
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10
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Caputo A, L’Imperio V, Merolla F, Girolami I, Leoni E, Mea VD, Pagni F, Fraggetta F. The slow-paced digital evolution of pathology: lights and shadows from a multifaceted board. Pathologica 2023; 115:127-136. [PMID: 37387439 PMCID: PMC10462988 DOI: 10.32074/1591-951x-868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective The digital revolution in pathology represents an invaluable resource fto optimise costs, reduce the risk of error and improve patient care, even though it is still adopted in a minority of laboratories. Barriers include concerns about initial costs, lack of confidence in using whole slide images for primary diagnosis, and lack of guidance on transition. To address these challenges and develop a programme to facilitate the introduction of digital pathology (DP) in Italian pathology departments, a panel discussion was set up to identify the key points to be considered. Methods On 21 July 2022, an initial conference call was held on Zoom to identify the main issues to be discussed during the face-to-face meeting. The final summit was divided into four different sessions: (I) the definition of DP, (II) practical applications of DP, (III) the use of AI in DP, (IV) DP and education. Results Essential requirements for the implementation of DP are a fully tracked and automated workflow, selection of the appropriate scanner based on the specific needs of each department, and a strong commitment combined with coordinated teamwork (pathologists, technicians, biologists, IT service and industries). This could reduce human error, leading to the application of AI tools for diagnosis, prognosis and prediction. Open challenges are the lack of specific regulations for virtual slide storage and the optimal storage solution for large volumes of slides. Conclusion Teamwork is key to DP transition, including close collaboration with industry. This will ease the transition and help bridge the gap that currently exists between many labs and full digitisation. The ultimate goal is to improve patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Caputo
- Department of Pathology, Ruggi University Hospital, Salerno, Italy
- Pathology Unit, Gravina Hospital Caltagirone ASP, Catania, Italy
| | - Vincenzo L’Imperio
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Pathology, University of Milan-Bicocca, IRCCS Fondazione San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
| | - Francesco Merolla
- Department of Medicine and Health Sciences “V. Tiberio”, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy
| | - Ilaria Girolami
- Department of Pathology, Provincial Hospital of Bolzano (SABES-ASDAA), Bolzano-Bozen, Italy; Lehrkrankenhaus der Paracelsus Medizinischen Privatuniversität
| | - Eleonora Leoni
- Pathology Unit, Busto Arsizio Hospital, Busto Arsizio, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Della Mea
- Department of Mathematics, Computer Science and Physics, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Fabio Pagni
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Pathology, University of Milan-Bicocca, IRCCS Fondazione San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
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11
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Krishnamurthy S, Jain P, Tripathy D, Basset R, Randhawa R, Muhammad H, Huang W, Yang H, Kummar S, Wilding G, Roy R. Predicting Response of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Using a Deep Convolutional Neural Network-Based Artificial Intelligence Tool. JCO Clin Cancer Inform 2023; 7:e2200181. [PMID: 36961981 PMCID: PMC10530970 DOI: 10.1200/cci.22.00181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Achieving a pathological complete response (pCR) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is associated with improved patient outcomes in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Currently, there are no validated predictive biomarkers for the response to NAC in TNBC. We developed and validated a deep convolutional neural network-based artificial intelligence (AI) model to predict the response of TNBC to NAC. MATERIALS AND METHODS Whole-slide images (WSIs) of hematoxylin and eosin-stained core biopsies from 165 (pCR in 60 and non-pCR in 105) and 78 (pCR in 31 and non-pCR in 47) patients with TNBC were used to train and validate the model. The model extracts morphometric features from WSIs in an unsupervised manner, thereby generating clusters of morphologically similar patterns. Downstream ranking of clusters provided regions of interest and morphometric scores; a low score close to zero and a high score close to one represented a high or low probability of response to NAC. RESULTS The predictive ability of AI score for the entire cohort of 78 patients with TNBC ascertained by receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrated an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.75. The AUC for stages I, II, and III disease were 0.88, 0.73, and 0.74, respectively. Using a cutoff value of 0.35, the positive predictive value of the AI score for pCR was 73.7%, and the negative predictive value was 76.2% for non-pCR patients. CONCLUSION To our knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate the use of an AI tool on digitized hematoxylin and eosin-stained tissue images to predict the response to NAC in patients with TNBC with high accuracy. If validated in subsequent studies, these results may serve as an ancillary aid for individualized therapeutic decisions in patients with TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Debu Tripathy
- University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Roland Basset
- University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
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12
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Vranic S, Gatalica Z. PD-L1 testing by immunohistochemistry in immuno-oncology. BIOMOLECULES AND BIOMEDICINE 2023; 23:15-25. [PMID: 35964287 PMCID: PMC9901897 DOI: 10.17305/bjbms.2022.7953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Immunotherapy, based on immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting the Programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and/or Programmed Death Receptor 1 (PD-1), has substantially improved the outcomes of patients with various cancers. However, only ~30% of patients benefit from immune checkpoint inhibitors. Tumor PD-L1 expression, assessed by immunohistochemistry, is the most widely validated and used predictive biomarker to guide the selection of patients for immune checkpoint inhibitors. PD-L1 assessment may be challenging due to the necessity for different companion diagnostic assays for required specific immune checkpoint inhibitors and a relatively high level of inter-assay variability in terms of performance and cutoff levels. In this review, we discuss the role of PD-L1 immunohistochemistry as a predictive test in immunotherapy (immuno-oncology), highlight the complexity of the PD-L1 testing landscape, discuss various preanalytical, analytical and clinical issues that are associated with PD-L1 assays, and provide some insights into optimization of PD-L1 as a predictive biomarker in immuno-oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Semir Vranic
- College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar,Correspondence to Semir Vranic:
| | - Zoran Gatalica
- Department of Pathology, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
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13
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Deep learning-based image analysis predicts PD-L1 status from H&E-stained histopathology images in breast cancer. Nat Commun 2022; 13:6753. [PMID: 36347854 PMCID: PMC9643479 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34275-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) has been recently adopted for breast cancer as a predictive biomarker for immunotherapies. The cost, time, and variability of PD-L1 quantification by immunohistochemistry (IHC) are a challenge. In contrast, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) is a robust staining used routinely for cancer diagnosis. Here, we show that PD-L1 expression can be predicted from H&E-stained images by employing state-of-the-art deep learning techniques. With the help of two expert pathologists and a designed annotation software, we construct a dataset to assess the feasibility of PD-L1 prediction from H&E in breast cancer. In a cohort of 3,376 patients, our system predicts the PD-L1 status in a high area under the curve (AUC) of 0.91 - 0.93. Our system is validated on two external datasets, including an independent clinical trial cohort, showing consistent prediction performance. Furthermore, the proposed system predicts which cases are prone to pathologists miss-interpretation, showing it can serve as a decision support and quality assurance system in clinical practice.
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14
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Choi S, Cho SI, Ma M, Park S, Pereira S, Aum BJ, Shin S, Paeng K, Yoo D, Jung W, Ock CY, Lee SH, Choi YL, Chung JH, Mok TS, Kim H, Kim S. Artificial intelligence–powered programmed death ligand 1 analyser reduces interobserver variation in tumour proportion score for non–small cell lung cancer with better prediction of immunotherapy response. Eur J Cancer 2022; 170:17-26. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2022.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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15
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When artificial intelligence meets PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors: Population screening, response prediction and efficacy evaluation. Comput Biol Med 2022; 145:105499. [DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2022.105499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 03/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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16
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Chen P, Zhang J, Wu J. Artificial Intelligence in Digital Pathology to Advance Cancer Immunotherapy. 21ST CENTURY PATHOLOGY 2022; 2:120. [PMID: 36282981 PMCID: PMC9578679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized the treatment of many malignancies. For instance, in lung cancer, however, only 20~30% of patients can achieve durable clinical benefits from ICI monotherapy. Histopathologic and molecular features such as histological type, PD-L1 expression, and tumor mutation burden (TMB), play a paramount role in selecting appropriate regimens for cancer treatment in the era of immunotherapy. Unfortunately, none of the existing features are exclusive predictive biomarkers. Thus, there is an imperative need to pinpoint more effective biomarkers to identify patients who may achieve the most benefit from ICIs. The adoption of digital pathology in clinical flow, as being powered by artificial intelligence (AI) especially deep learning, has catalyzed the automated analysis of tissue slides. With the breakthrough of multiplex bioimaging technology, researchers can comprehensively characterize the tumor microenvironment, including the different immune cells' distribution, function, and interaction. Here, we briefly summarize recent AI studies in digital pathology and share our perspective on emerging paradigms and directions to advance the development of immunotherapy biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pingjun Chen
- Departments of Imaging Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jianjun Zhang
- Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jia Wu
- Departments of Imaging Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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17
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Tarantino P, Barroso-Sousa R, Garrido-Castro AC, McAllister SS, Guerriero JL, Mittendorf E, Curigliano G, Tolaney SM. Understanding resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced breast cancer. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 2021; 22:141-153. [PMID: 34919490 DOI: 10.1080/14737140.2022.2020650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The addition of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) to frontline chemotherapy has improved survival for patients with advanced triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) expressing programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1). Nonetheless, most patients develop resistance, with outcomes remaining poor for this population. Moreover, unsatisfactory activity has been observed with ICIs in PD-L1-negative TNBC and in other breast cancer (BC) subtypes, warranting a deeper understanding of resistance to ICIs in BC. AREAS COVERED We discuss the immune landscape of distinct BC subtypes, review the clinical activity of immunotherapy in BC, and highlight strategies under development to overcome resistance to ICIs. EXPERT OPINION Activity and resistance to ICIs in BC are strongly related to the intrinsic immunophenotype of the tumor tissue. Several promising biomarkers reflecting the immunological state of BC are emerging, with only PD-L1 expression currently adopted into clinical practice. However, limitations make of PD-L1 a sub-optimal biomarker for patient selection, which require efforts to integrate this marker with other immunological features. Concomitantly, a wide variety of drug combinations designed to overcome immune-resistance are being evaluated, with some encouraging signals observed in early-phase trials. Combination strategies tailored to patient and tumor immunophenotype may allow to overcome resistance and fully exploit the potential of ICIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Tarantino
- Division of New Drugs and Early Drug Development, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy.,Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.,Breast Oncology Program Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Ana C Garrido-Castro
- Breast Oncology Program Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sandra S McAllister
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Hematology Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jennifer L Guerriero
- Breast Oncology Program Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Division of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elizabeth Mittendorf
- Breast Oncology Program Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Division of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Giuseppe Curigliano
- Division of New Drugs and Early Drug Development, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy.,Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Sara M Tolaney
- Breast Oncology Program Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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