55 research outputs found
Matching in the Wild: Learning Anatomical Embeddings for Multi-Modality Images
Radiotherapists require accurate registration of MR/CT images to effectively
use information from both modalities. In a typical registration pipeline, rigid
or affine transformations are applied to roughly align the fixed and moving
images before proceeding with the deformation step. While recent learning-based
methods have shown promising results in the rigid/affine step, these methods
often require images with similar field-of-view (FOV) for successful alignment.
As a result, aligning images with different FOVs remains a challenging task.
Self-supervised landmark detection methods like self-supervised Anatomical
eMbedding (SAM) have emerged as a useful tool for mapping and cropping images
to similar FOVs. However, these methods are currently limited to intra-modality
use only. To address this limitation and enable cross-modality matching, we
propose a new approach called Cross-SAM. Our approach utilizes a novel
iterative process that alternates between embedding learning and CT-MRI
registration. We start by applying aggressive contrast augmentation on both CT
and MRI images to train a SAM model. We then use this SAM to identify
corresponding regions on paired images using robust grid-points matching,
followed by a point-set based affine/rigid registration, and a deformable
fine-tuning step to produce registered paired images. We use these registered
pairs to enhance the matching ability of SAM, which is then processed
iteratively. We use the final model for cross-modality matching tasks. We
evaluated our approach on two CT-MRI affine registration datasets and found
that Cross-SAM achieved robust affine registration on both datasets,
significantly outperforming other methods and achieving state-of-the-art
performance
Identification of Enriched Driver Gene Alterations in Subgroups of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients Based on Histology and Smoking Status
BACKGROUND: Appropriate patient selection is needed for targeted therapies that are efficacious only in patients with specific genetic alterations. We aimed to define subgroups of patients with candidate driver genes in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. METHODS: Patients with primary lung cancer who underwent clinical genetic tests at Guangdong General Hospital were enrolled. Driver genes were detected by sequencing, high-resolution melt analysis, qPCR, or multiple PCR and RACE methods. RESULTS: 524 patients were enrolled in this study, and the differences in driver gene alterations among subgroups were analyzed based on histology and smoking status. In a subgroup of non-smokers with adenocarcinoma, EGFR was the most frequently altered gene, with a mutation rate of 49.8%, followed by EML4-ALK (9.3%), PTEN (9.1%), PIK3CA (5.2%), c-Met (4.8%), KRAS (4.5%), STK11 (2.7%), and BRAF (1.9%). The three most frequently altered genes in a subgroup of smokers with adenocarcinoma were EGFR (22.0%), STK11 (19.0%), and KRAS (12.0%). We only found EGFR (8.0%), c-Met (2.8%), and PIK3CA (2.6%) alterations in the non-smoker with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) subgroup. PTEN (16.1%), STK11 (8.3%), and PIK3CA (7.2%) were the three most frequently enriched genes in smokers with SCC. DDR2 and FGFR2 only presented in smokers with SCC (4.4% and 2.2%, respectively). Among these four subgroups, the differences in EGFR, KRAS, and PTEN mutations were statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The distinct features of driver gene alterations in different subgroups based on histology and smoking status were helpful in defining patients for future clinical trials that target these genes. This study also suggests that we may consider patients with infrequent alterations of driver genes as having rare or orphan diseases that should be managed with special molecularly targeted therapies
INSPIRE: A phase III study of the BLP25 liposome vaccine (L-BLP25) in Asian patients with unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Previous research suggests the therapeutic cancer vaccine L-BLP25 potentially provides a survival benefit in patients with locally advanced unresectable stage III non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). These promising findings prompted the phase III study, INSPIRE, in patients of East-Asian ethnicity. East-Asian ethnicity is an independent favourable prognostic factor for survival in NSCLC. The favourable prognosis is most likely due to a higher incidence of EGFR mutations among this patient population.</p> <p>Methods/design</p> <p>The primary objective of the INSPIRE study is to assess the treatment effect of L-BLP25 plus best supportive care (BSC), as compared to placebo plus BSC, on overall survival time in East-Asian patients with unresectable stage III NSCLC and either documented stable disease or an objective response according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria following primary chemoradiotherapy. Those in the L-BLP25 arm will receive a single intravenous infusion of cyclophosphamide (300 mg/m<sup>2</sup>) 3 days before the first L-BLP25 vaccination, with a corresponding intravenous infusion of saline to be given in the control arm. A primary treatment phase of 8 subcutaneous vaccinations of L-BLP25 930 μg or placebo at weekly intervals will be followed by a maintenance treatment phase of 6-weekly vaccinations continued until disease progression or discontinuation from the study.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>The ongoing INSPIRE study is the first large study of a therapeutic cancer vaccine specifically in an East-Asian population. It evaluates the potential of maintenance therapy with L-BLP25 to prolong survival in East-Asian patients with stage III NSCLC where there are limited treatment options currently available.</p> <p>Study number</p> <p>EMR 63325-012</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>Clinicaltrials.gov reference: <a href="http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01015443">NCT01015443</a></p
2nd ESMO Consensus Conference in Lung Cancer: locally advanced stage III non-small-cell lung cancer
To complement the existing treatment guidelines, ESMO organises consensus conferences to focus on specific issues. The 2nd ESMO Consensus Conference on Lung Cancer included 35 experts who met to address several questions on non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Recommendations were made with reference to grade of recommendation and level of evidence. This paper focuses on locally advanced diseas
Chinese students in a UK business school: hearing the student voice in reflective teaching and learning practice.
This paper presents the outcomes of a study carried out in 2001-2002 with nine postgraduate students from China, enrolled on taught master's programmes in a UK university business school. The aims of the research were to explore the development of the students' orientations to learning during their year of study in the UK, and to explore how the researcher's interactions with the study group contributed to her professional reflections and influenced her academic practice. The main conclusions of the project were that participants' underlying approaches to learning did not change substantially over the year, owing to the culturally implicit nature of UK academic conventions and that they experienced high levels of emotional isolation and loneliness, which affected their academic confidence
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