Overview

Melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, is typically diagnosed by pathologists who visually examine biopsies from unusual skin growths. Although many pathologists are well-practiced at identifying melanoma, computer-based image analysis could help refine the diagnostic process by quantifying features identifying these cancerous tissues. In a project led by melanoma specialist Dr. Nancy Thomas, professor in the School of Medicine at UNC Chapel Hill, RENCI collaborates with researchers in computer science, statistics and operations research, dermatology, and pathology to apply image analysis approaches to aid in diagnosis and prognosis of melanomas from biopsy slides.

The Melanoma Image Analysis project aims to enhance prediction of patient survival, link melanoma phenotypes to specific genetic mutations, and guide future treatment options. RENCI experts work with the project team to develop image analysis algorithms for extracting melanoma features, such as stain intensity, density of cell nuclei, and nuclear area and shape, that can lead to clinically relevant tests. (more…)