ImpriMed has unveiled a new method that effectively links cell size categories for feline lymphomas directly to cancer survival rates
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ImpriMed, a leading precision medicine startup focused on leveraging artificial intelligence to improve cancer treatment, has announced the publication of its groundbreaking research on a novel cell-sizing method for feline lymphomas in veterinary sciences.
This study marks a significant advancement in the diagnostic support and prognosis of feline lymphomas. By improving the precision of cell size assessment, ImpriMed’s method can potentially transform veterinary oncology, providing more reliable prognostic insights, and enhancing treatment planning and patient outcomes.
ImpriMed’s study, titled “Prognostic utility of the flow cytometry and clonality analysis results for feline lymphomas,” presents flow cytometry and clonality evaluation as reliable methods for characterising feline lymphomas. Study findings highlight the effectiveness of ImpriMed’s flow cytometry-based approach in distinguishing between small, medium and large cell sizes, which correlates with patient survival rates. Additionally, this system achieved an impressive 82 to 90 percent concordance with the gold standard of cytology.
“We are thrilled to share our breakthrough findings with the veterinary community,” said Sungwon Lim, ImpriMed’s CEO and co-founder. “Our innovative cell-sizing method is a significant advancement in the fight against feline lymphomas, equipping veterinarians nationwide with enhanced tools for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment of this challenging disease.”
Although flow cytometry is widely used to identify and characterise lymphomas in dogs and humans, its application in cats has been relatively unexplored. Lymphoma is one of the most common cancers in cats, accounting for nearly 30 percent of all feline cancers. ImpriMed’s method uniquely leverages flow cytometry to assess feline neoplastic cells across size categories. This detailed categorisation is crucial for prognosis and significantly impacts treatment decisions.
Study highlights
- Objective: to investigate the utility of flow cytometry and clonality analysis via PCR for antigen receptor rearrangement (PARR) in characterising feline lymphoma and predicting prognosis
- Method: fine needle aspirates and/or blood samples from 438 feline patients were analysed. Flow cytometry parameters, particularly forward scatter thresholds, were optimised for cell size categorisation
- Results:
- The novel cell-sizing method showed 82 percent concordance with cytological sizing in a training set and 90 percent concordance in an independent test set
- Expanded research with more patients showed significant survival differences. Cats with small-cell lymphomas survived the longest (median 312 days), followed by medium-cell (median 189 days) and large-cell with a median survival time of 81 days
- Lymphoma subtypes defined by flow cytometry and PARR demonstrated significant survival differences, emphasising the system’s potential prognostic utility
This milestone achievement demonstrates ImpriMed’s commitment to addressing the unmet needs of feline cancer patients. Their novel technique increases the resolution of cell-sizing determinations, the most comprehensive evaluation of medium-cell survival rates to date.
ImpriMed’s publication lays the groundwork for a forthcoming study of AI-driven prognostication for feline lymphoma that aims to further revolutionise predictive analytics for individualised patient treatment strategies.
