This morning Leica announced the release of a new image analysis application desgined to integrate with their portfolio of the SCN400 scanner and Ariol technology.  Was able to get a sneak peek at this application recently and was impressed with ease of use and accuracy embedded within a complete digital pathology solution from scanning to archiving to viewing to image analysis.  

As frequent readers know, I consider image analysis a significant component of digital pathology.  The technology takes pathology to a place we have not enjoyed with conventional microscopy and often single stains on a single slides, usually immunohistochemistry-only or flourescent-stain alone.  

While effective, it limits interpretation largely to tumor biology rather than cellular biology. Image analysis allows for deconvoluting multiplex staining to ask very specific questions about particular cellular phenotypes rather than tumor phenotypes, and in return, answer some specific questions related to celliular behavior, clinical prognosis & enhance biomarker development and drug discovery.

Lessons learned from the HER2 experience, related therapy and known issues with processing, staining and interpretation I think have shown the need for image analysis for improved accuracy, consistency and reproducibility.

Wetzlar, Germany, March 30, 2012—Leica Microsystems announces the release of Tissue IA 2.0, high performance image analysis for discovery research. Combining fluorescence and brightfield analysis capabilities in a single platform, with precision cell modelling, Tissue IA 2.0 offers a superior solution for IHC biomarker quantification. Tissue IA 2.0 joins the Total Digital Pathology portfolio from Leica, providing streamlined end-to-end excellence in capture, management and analysis of digital pathology images.

A major challenge in research today is retrieval of quantitative, reproducible data from tissue-based IHC studies. Tissue IA 2.0 provides expert tools for researchers to extract the most from their studies. Powerful color separation and multi-marker colocalization functionality provides advanced insight and unbiased measurement of multiple antigen immunostaining in brightfield or fluorescent samples. Sophisticated cell modelling accurately detects and quantifies differential expression of staining in cellular compartments, providing detailed insight into cytoplasmic, membrane and nuclear biomarker localization.

The advanced dual staining capabilities in Tissue IA 2.0 enable researchers to identify cell cohorts at the molecular level.  Use one marker to identify a population of interest and then quantify expression of a second, providing exceptional analysis performance and greater understanding of a user’s slides.  Algorithms are easily adjusted and optimized for different markers, tissue and protocols giving a flexible platform for drug discovery applications. 

Easy to deploy and easy to use, the Tissue IA web-accessible interface means that users can take their analysis with them wherever they go. With high throughput batch analysis capacity, Tissue IA 2.0 will process whole slides, regions of interest or tissue microarray cores, and automatically integrate analysis results with a user’s slides. A built-in upload interface facilitating integration of algorithms from 3rd party software solutions, gives greater flexibility to further expand analysis options.

Dr. Donal O’Shea, Head of Digital Pathology in Leica Microsystems, says:

“Mulitplexing is of growing importance in translational research and tools to help quantify the expression and location of multiple biomarkers concurrently in tissue are a real requirement.  TissueIA 2.0 delivers for the user through offering chromogenic and fluorescence quantification and co-localization, cell based histoscoring on multi-compartmental IHC staining and the power to include and exclude cell populations based on biomarker expression.  In conjunction with our SCN400 F and Ariol platforms, this further expands our Digital Pathology portfolio for the life science and clinical researcher and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to this area.”

Tissue IA 2.0, with its powerful, streamlined analysis, is the ideal choice for biomarker discovery and translational research. Its unique combination of flexibility, automation and ease-of-use make it an unparalleled tool for digital pathology research. To learn more about Tissue IA 2.0, please visit http://www.leica-microsystems.com/products/digital-pathology/analyze/details/product/tissue-ia/

Leica Microsystems will be at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2012, March 31 – April 4, Chicago, IL. Visit Leica at booth 4103 to experience our new image analysis solution for Digital Pathology.

*For research use only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

About Leica Microsystems

Leica Microsystems is a leading global designer and producer of innovative, high-tech, precision optical systems for the analysis of microstructures. It is one of the market leaders in each of its business areas: Microscopy, Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy with corresponding Imaging Systems, Specimen Preparation, and Medical Equipment. The company manufactures a broad range of products for numerous applications requiring microscopic imaging, measurement, and analysis. It also offers system solutions for life science including biotechnology and medicine, research and development of raw materials, and industrial quality assurance. The company is represented in over 100 countries with 16 manufacturing facilities in 9 countries, sales and service organizations in 19 countries and an international network of dealers. The global management is headquartered in Wetzlar, Germany.