SBIR Phase I: Software Development for Automatic Scanning and Analysis of Fluorescent Labeled Prostate Cancer Cells

*9761194莱斯科这个小企业创新研究第一阶段项目建议开发一种自动扫描显微镜，以允许用于前列腺癌分析的一种有前途的细胞遗传学程序的商业化。这一过程基于从患者血液中分离出的稀有细胞的特殊荧光标记，然后扫描并分析癌细胞特征，如细胞角蛋白、PSMA和染色体非整倍体。虽然样品制备程序现在已经可以常规使用，但目前扫描载玻片上阳性癌细胞的方法过于费力和耗时，无法实现测试的成功商业化。因此，我们建议开发一种自动荧光显微镜系统，该系统将以与成功商业化兼容的速度、精度和成本扫描测试玻片。CeIlgene的项目团队在将基因生物技术与计算机和成像技术相结合方面有着良好的记录，现在已经获得了从研究到生产再到商业部署所需的额外要素。虽然最初的商业化努力将针对前列腺癌，但拟议的自动化系统将适用于支持相关的细胞遗传学程序，以解决其他具有类似商业化潜力的重要医学问题。***

*** 9761194 Lesko This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project proposes the development of an automated scanning microscope to permit the commercialization of a promising cytogenetic procedure for prostate cancer analysis. The procedure is based on the specific fluorescence labeling of rare cells isolated from patients' blood which are then scanned and analyzed for cancer cell characteristics, such as cytokeratin, PSMA and chromosome aneuploidy. While the sample preparation procedure is now ready for routine use, the current method for scanning the slide for positive cancer cells is far too labor intensive and time consuming to permit the successful commercialization of the test. Therefore we propose to develop an automated fluorescence microscopy system that will scan the test slides with a speed, accuracy and cost that is compatible with successful commercialization. The project team at CeIlGene has a proven track record for combining genetic biotechnology with computer and imaging techniques and has now gained the additional elements necessary to make the transition from research to production and finally commercial deployment. Although the initial commercialization effort will be directed towards prostate cancer, the proposed automated system will be adaptable to support related cytogenetic procedures that address other important medical problems with similar commercialization potential. ***