Clinical Research
The Anatomical Pathology Centre has initiated many clinical trials with a diagnostic and prognostic purpose that require the development of appropriate tools:
- Tissu MicroArray (TMA)
The "Tissue MicroArray" (abbreviated to TMA) technique is a technique that makes it possible to evaluate systematically hundreds of samples of pathological tissues by means of morphological and molecular analyses such as in situ hydridization and immunohistochemistry.
At the Erasmus Hospital Anatomical Pathology Laboratory two types of TMA are realised and used. The first type is known as general TMA and takes tissue obtained from all the organs and the second is known as targeted TMA and takes specific tissue selected from the archives of the Anatomical Pathology Department on the basis of clearly defined clinical criteria defined by the study goals.
- Quantification of tissue biomarkers through image analysis
For many years now, the Anatomical Pathology Department has used image acquisition and analysis tools to quantify variables describing an immunohistohemical marker. The descriptive variables currently used concern object counting, the percentage of marked surface (“labelling index”) and the marker intensity (measurements of optical density). In cooperation with the ULB’s Faculty of Applied Sciences (Biomedical Civil Engineering and the LISA Laboratory in particular), the department develops quality standardisation and control protocols for a standardised numeration and quantification, as well as extraction methods for new descriptors.
- Biostatistics and data mining
Modern methods of data analysis (multivariate statistics, data mining, shape recognition) make it possible to compare biological markers (obtained through immunohistochemical marking) with a patient’s clinical characteristics and pathology. Using models constructed on the basis of all these data, the Anatomical Pathology Department has been able to identify new diagnostic and prognostic criteria in various pathological contexts. The aim of this approach is to take into account the specificities of each patient so as to individually predict the development of their pathology and response to treatment.
The Anatomical Pathology Department cooperates with fundamental and industrial research laboratories with the aim of establishing the diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic value of new biomarkers. It also works with the clinician on numerous studies making it possible to evaluate the effectiveness of new treatments distributed by pharmaceutical companies.