Panakeia introduces AI software for rapid MSI/dMMR detection in colorectal cancer
Cambridge-based Panakeia has announced PANProfiler Colon, an artificial intelligence-driven software tool that determines micro-satellite instability (MSI) and mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR) status from H&E-stained tissue samples within minutes. The technology aims to accelerate molecular profiling for precision medicine in colorectal cancer treatment.
The UKCA-marked software is now operational in multiple UK hospitals, representing the company’s second clinical product following PANProfiler Breast. The technology analyses standard H&E-stained images of colon cancer tissue samples to provide rapid molecular profiling information, enabling faster treatment decisions for personalised therapy.
Platform capabilities
PANProfiler Colon operates as part of Panakeia’s broader multi-omic biomarker profiling platform, which can analyse biomarkers across more than 30 cancer types. While the platform itself remains available for research use only (RUO), PANProfiler Colon has achieved UK regulatory clearance for clinical use.
Significance for colorectal cancer diagnosis
MSI and dMMR testing has become increasingly crucial in colorectal cancer management, particularly for identifying Lynch syndrome cases. The software’s ability to determine these markers directly from H&E-stained images could potentially streamline the diagnostic workflow compared to traditional laboratory-based testing methods.
Professor David Harrison, Director of iCAIRD and Consultant in NHS Lothian, noted: “PANProfiler Colon is the second profiling tool generated by Panakeia and its PANProfiler platform, the utility of which was explored by the Industrial Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research in Digital Diagnostics consortium. Receiving an early cancer diagnosis can vastly improve a patient’s experience and treatment outcomes.”
A blinded multi-site validation study of PANProfiler Colon will be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Gastro-intestinal Cancers Symposium, 23-25 January 2025. These results will provide crucial data regarding the software’s performance in clinical settings.
Technical framework
The technology leverages artificial intelligence and proprietary insights into colorectal cancer biology to analyse H&E-stained images. This approach aims to provide molecular profiling information without requiring additional laboratory tests, potentially reducing time and resource requirements in the diagnostic pathway.
CEO Pahini Pandya commented: “The launch of PANProfiler Colon is another key milestone for Panakeia. We are committed to making precision medicine accessible across the globe and continue to deliver on this vision by releasing our second product for use in colon cancer MSI/dMMR molecular profiling.”
For more information, visit: https://www.panakeia.ai
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