Philips integrates Dako image analysis into digital pathology system
22 July 2010
Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) has signed an
agreement with Danish cancer diagnostics company Dako to integrate a
selection of Dako’s image analysis applications into Philips’ future
digital pathology systems.
Currently, anatomic pathology workflows to examine tissue samples
are based on the microscope, through which pathologists examine
tissue sections mounted on glass slides and treated with different
stains.
The staining enhances the contrast between, or reveals the presence
of, cellular and molecular components such as cell nuclei or
specific proteins. Accurate interpretation of the results is
critical to the diagnosis and staging of each individual patient’s
disease and requires a great deal of skill and experience.
Digitizing the images that pathologists normally view through a
microscope may enable the introduction of objective and quantitative
image analysis tools.
A fast pathology slide scanner and an associated image management
system form the basis of Philips’ proposed integrated solutions for
digitizing pathology workflows. The Philips-Dako collaboration will
initially focus on leveraging Dako’s image analysis software for
tissue-based breast cancer diagnosis using its reagents for staining
HER2, Estrogen Receptor (ER), Progesterone Receptor (PR), p53 and
Ki-67 proteins.
The detection and quantification of these proteins in biopsy tissue
are highly relevant for the classification of breast cancers and the
selection of appropriate therapy. Philips and Dako will also explore
the possibility of extending the collaboration to include image
analysis software for immunohistology-based prostate and colon
cancer diagnostics.
“Anatomic pathology is an essential element of virtually every
cancer diagnosis and the demand for it is ever-increasing. Our goal
is to develop integrated digital solutions that enhance the
operational efficiency and productivity of pathology departments, as
well as increasing diagnostic confidence,” says Bob van Gemen,
General Manager of Philips Digital Pathology.
“I am convinced that our partnership with Dako, with its leading
market position and expert knowledge in detecting and quantifying
specific biomarkers in cancer tissue, will significantly accelerate
our clinical applications development program.”
“Lars Holmkvist, CEO of Dako said, “By joining forces with
Philips, we will be able to deliver highly competitive diagnostic
tools based on Philips’ extensive clinical expertise and technology
know-how and Dako’s expertise in advanced staining and image
analysis in order to benefit pathology laboratories, pathologists
and ultimately patients.”
Dr Clive Taylor, MD, PhD, Professor at University of Southern
California, USA, and a renowned expert in pathology, commented:
“Digital pathology has been long in gestation, in comparison to
radiology, where images also are the currency of practice, and where
image acquisition, transfer, interpretation and storage is almost
entirely digital.
"In part, this lag is because acquisition of histopathology
images is dependent upon a 100-year-old technique of ‘tissue
fixation’, sectioning and staining. In part, it is because, somewhat
surprisingly, fully digitized histopathology images are much larger
than CT files, and difficult to manage and analyze.
"Progress has been slow because there has been no single
institution, or company, that embraces both of these areas. It is
exciting that collaborations like that between Dako and Philips are
now bringing diverse but appropriate expertise to bear on
implementing a full digital pathology program.”