A Robust Algorithm for Automated HER2 Scoring in Breast Cancer Histology Slides Using Characteristic Curves

This paper presents a novel feature descriptor and classification algorithms for automated scoring of HER2 in Whole Slide Images (WSI). Since a large amount of processing is involved in analyzing WSI images, the primary design goal has been to keep the computational complexity to the minimum possible level. We propose an efficient method based on characteristic curves which encode all relevant information in a smooth polynomial curve with the percentage of stained membranes plotted against variations in intensity/saturation of the colour thresholds used for segmentation. Our algorithm performed exceedingly well at a recent online contest held by the University of Warwick [1], obtaining the second best points score of 390 out of 420 and the overall seventh position in the combined leaderboard [2]. The paper describes three classification algorithms with features extracted from characteristic curves and provides experimental results and comparative analysi

Activation of beta-catenin in the stem cell region of crypts during growth of the small intestine in infant rats

The original publication is available at www.springerlink.comThe Wnt/beta-catenin pathway has been proposed as promoting intestinal stem cell division. Wnt ligands activate cytoplasmic beta-catenin and increase nuclear translocation of beta-catenin that binds to the Tcf-4 transcription factor. The aim of this study was to investigate beta-catenin expression in the stem cell region of crypts during intestinal growth in rats. Litters of DAxPVG/c rats were humanely killed at 7, 14, 21, 35, and 72 days of life. beta-Catenin and Tcf-4 were quantified by immunoperoxidase staining and image analysis with cumulative signal analysis. Cytoplasmic and nuclear expression of beta-catenin peaked nearly 2-fold at day 14 (versus day 7) of life in the stem cell region of intestinal crypts. Tcf-4 nuclear expression peaked earlier at 7 days and was lower thereafter with age. We conclude that the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway is activated in the stem cell region of intestinal crypts during growth of the small intestine.Kimberley S. Camac, Fiona M. Thompson and Adrian G. Cummin