Carcinogenesis is a multi-step process involving genetic alterations and non-genotoxic mechanisms. The in vitro cell transformation assay allows the monitoring of the neoplastic phenotype by foci formation in suitable cells (e.g. C3H10T1/2 mouse embryo fibroblasts) showing aberrant morphology of massive build-up, polar and multi-layered densely stained cells. The classification of transformed foci in C3H cells relies on light microscopy scoring by a trained human expert based on standard rules. This procedure is time-consuming and prone, in some cases, to subjectivity, thereby leading to possible over- or under-estimation of the carcinogenic potential of tested compounds. Herewith we describe the in vitro neoplastic transformation induced by B[a]P and CdCl2, and the development of a foci classifier based on image analysis and statistical classification. The image analysis system, which relies on ‘spectrum enhancement’, is quantitative and extracts descriptors of foci texture and structure. The statistical classificationmethod is based on the Random Forest algorithm. We obtained a classifier trained by using expert’s supervision with a 20% classification error. The proposed method could serve as a basis to automate the in vitro cell transformation assay.

Urani, C., Stefanini, F., Melchioretto, P., Bussinelli, L., Crosta, G. (2009). Image analysis and automatic classification of transformed foci. JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY, 234(3), 269-279 [10.1111/j.1365-2818.2009.03171.x].

Image analysis and automatic classification of transformed foci

URANI, CHIARA;MELCHIORETTO, PASQUALE;CROSTA, GIOVANNI FRANCO FILIPPO
2009

Abstract

Carcinogenesis is a multi-step process involving genetic alterations and non-genotoxic mechanisms. The in vitro cell transformation assay allows the monitoring of the neoplastic phenotype by foci formation in suitable cells (e.g. C3H10T1/2 mouse embryo fibroblasts) showing aberrant morphology of massive build-up, polar and multi-layered densely stained cells. The classification of transformed foci in C3H cells relies on light microscopy scoring by a trained human expert based on standard rules. This procedure is time-consuming and prone, in some cases, to subjectivity, thereby leading to possible over- or under-estimation of the carcinogenic potential of tested compounds. Herewith we describe the in vitro neoplastic transformation induced by B[a]P and CdCl2, and the development of a foci classifier based on image analysis and statistical classification. The image analysis system, which relies on ‘spectrum enhancement’, is quantitative and extracts descriptors of foci texture and structure. The statistical classificationmethod is based on the Random Forest algorithm. We obtained a classifier trained by using expert’s supervision with a 20% classification error. The proposed method could serve as a basis to automate the in vitro cell transformation assay.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
Foci; image analysis; neoplastic transformation; quantitative morphology; random forest algorithm; spectrum enhancement algorithm
English
2009
234
3
269
279
none
Urani, C., Stefanini, F., Melchioretto, P., Bussinelli, L., Crosta, G. (2009). Image analysis and automatic classification of transformed foci. JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY, 234(3), 269-279 [10.1111/j.1365-2818.2009.03171.x].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/6019
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