Description of Invention:
The instant invention discloses a software to analyze optical microscopic images of human breast tissue sections for diagnosing cancer by using the differences in spatial positioning of certain genes. The software uses the inherent hierarchy in the data and stores all the analysis and manual interaction information in a highly structured XML file. It is a user-friendly software to discriminate normal and cancerous human breast tissue section images that can be used for large experiments. Additionally the software uses a cluster of computers in the background to reduce the analysis time for large image datasets. Furthermore, the software of instant invention provides a set of tools for performing diagnostic or prognostic assays on new unseen datasets.

Applications:

• The software could be an essential part of an integrated diagnostic or prognostic assay for breast cancer detection.
• The software could be a key tool for biomedical research to test new markers and their applicability for diagnostic purposes.
• The use of the software could provide important information for understanding the underlying causes of gene repositioning.

Advantages:

• The software of instant invention can be used to analyze relatively large datasets.
• To reduce the processing time by at least 10 fold.
• The software can be used in a broad range of quantitative image analysis applications.

Development Status:

• Prototype
• Clinical
• In vitro data available (human)

Inventors:
Kaustav Nandy (NCI)
Prabhakar R Gudla (NCI)
William J Cukierski (Rutgers The State University of New Jersey)
Stephen J Lockett (NCI)
Karen A Meaburn (NCI)
Thomas A Misteli (NCI)
Renee Qian (Northwestern University)


Patent Status:
HHS, Reference No. E-286-2012/0

Software — Patent protection is not being pursued for this technology.

Relevant Publication:

1. Gudla PR, et al. [ PMID 18338778 ]
2. Nandy K, et al. [ PMID 19963931 ]
3. Meaburn KJ, et al. [ PMID 19995938 ]
4. Cukierski WJ, et al. [ PMID 22971117 ]
5. Nandy K, et al. [ PMID 22255704 ]

Collaborative Research Opportunity:
The SAIC-Frederick Optical Microscopy and Analysis Laboratory is seeking statements of capability or interest from parties interested in collaborative research to further develop, evaluate or commercialize this technology. For collaboration opportunities, please contact John Hewes, Ph.D. at hewesj@mail.nih.gov .


For Licensing Information Please Contact:
Susan Ano Ph.D.
NIH Office of Technology Transfer
6011 Executive Blvd. Suite 325,
Rockville, MD 20852
United States
Email: anos@mail.nih.gov
Phone: 301-435-5515
Fax: 301-402-0220


Ref No: 2510

Updated: 01/2013