Final Report Summary - ETUMOUR (Web-accessible magnetic resonance support system for brain tumour diagnosis and prognosis, incorporating in vivo and ex vivo genomic and metabolomic data)
The ETUMOUR project aimed to create a comprehensive web-accessible Decision support system (DSS) which has a Graphical user interface (GUI) to display clinical, metabolomic and genetic brain tumour data, combined with a database of rigorously validated and anonymised magnetic resonance imaging / spectroscopy (MRI / MRS), clinical, histological and molecular phenotype data from patients. It aimed also to facilitate evidence-based clinical decision-making (e.g. diagnosis, prognosis, optimal treatment strategies etc.) by using statistical pattern recognition analysis of molecular images of brain tumours (using MRS) and incorporating new criteria such as genetic based tumour classifications and related clinical information such as patient outcome.
Below there is a brief summary of the results achieved:
- Protocols for different data types. Multimodal data sets required the definition and agreement of specific acquisition protocols, particularly for relatively new high-throughput techniques such as tissue analysis by High-resolution magic angle spinning spectroscopy (HRMAS) and DNA microarrays. New protocols for MRI, SV MRS, HR-MAS and DNA have been developed;
- Global database (eTDB) for complex and multimodal data. It comprised a complete and detailed graphic user interface (GUI) and structure for uploading and downloading via the web, an anonymisation module for MRI data which is of critical importance when personal data is embedded within the raw data files, pre-processing modules for raw SV 1H MRS data, visualisation modules (MRI, MRS, HR-MAS and histology), biological and clinical data quality control as well as an extensive range of data types with a total of 1990 individual brain tumour cases finally uploaded;
- Quality control methodology. The quality control was applied in administration and project co-ordination, in various software packages that have been developed in the project such as the eTDB and the CADS, in all clinical data and scientific instruments. The data quality control was performed by expert panels using automatic tools and the quality control of data accrual and uploading in the eTDB has been monitored with individual audits for each partner;
- Pattern recognition (PR). New PR methods have been now developed for adult as well as for paediatric brain tumours and have been useful for improved classification of brain tumours either using individual data types (SV MRS, HR-MAS, DNA microarrays, SNPs) or the combination of two or more data types (MRI and MRSI, MRSI and HR-MAS, HR-MAS and DNA microarrays, DNA microarrays and SNPs);
- Computer-aided design (CADS) evaluation in a real clinical development. User experience with different processes such as software installation, user-friendliness, system capabilities and expected potential applications has been evaluated as well as the statistical analysis has been evaluated which compares the diagnostic results obtained by the CADS software with the gold standard reference of MRI and histopathology
Below there is a brief summary of the results achieved:
- Protocols for different data types. Multimodal data sets required the definition and agreement of specific acquisition protocols, particularly for relatively new high-throughput techniques such as tissue analysis by High-resolution magic angle spinning spectroscopy (HRMAS) and DNA microarrays. New protocols for MRI, SV MRS, HR-MAS and DNA have been developed;
- Global database (eTDB) for complex and multimodal data. It comprised a complete and detailed graphic user interface (GUI) and structure for uploading and downloading via the web, an anonymisation module for MRI data which is of critical importance when personal data is embedded within the raw data files, pre-processing modules for raw SV 1H MRS data, visualisation modules (MRI, MRS, HR-MAS and histology), biological and clinical data quality control as well as an extensive range of data types with a total of 1990 individual brain tumour cases finally uploaded;
- Quality control methodology. The quality control was applied in administration and project co-ordination, in various software packages that have been developed in the project such as the eTDB and the CADS, in all clinical data and scientific instruments. The data quality control was performed by expert panels using automatic tools and the quality control of data accrual and uploading in the eTDB has been monitored with individual audits for each partner;
- Pattern recognition (PR). New PR methods have been now developed for adult as well as for paediatric brain tumours and have been useful for improved classification of brain tumours either using individual data types (SV MRS, HR-MAS, DNA microarrays, SNPs) or the combination of two or more data types (MRI and MRSI, MRSI and HR-MAS, HR-MAS and DNA microarrays, DNA microarrays and SNPs);
- Computer-aided design (CADS) evaluation in a real clinical development. User experience with different processes such as software installation, user-friendliness, system capabilities and expected potential applications has been evaluated as well as the statistical analysis has been evaluated which compares the diagnostic results obtained by the CADS software with the gold standard reference of MRI and histopathology