Qlucore presents promising results in the field of lung cancer diagnosis

30 May 2023 -- Lund, Sweden -- Qlucore can now present the first results from an EU-funded project for the improved diagnosis of lung cancer. The new classification model not only separates different subgroups of primary lung cancer but also indicates whether the tumour sample is a metastasis of breast, colorectal or kidney cell cancer. This information can have significant implications for treatment decisions in future clinical applications.

A first-generation classification model for lung cancer has now been developed and is performing well. The model is based on gene expression data and is already available for use within Qlucore Insights. The initial model facilitates a division into two main groups, lung adeno-carcinoma and lung squamous cell carcinoma, as well as three further groups based on whether the tumour profile corresponds to metastases from breast, colorectal or kidney cell cancer. The model is designed to utilise tissue fixed with formalin (FFPE), which is a common sample form in the pathological workflow for solid tumours. It is clinically important to distinguish between primary lung cancer tumours and tumours that have metastasised to the lung in order to optimise next step investigations and treatment. Additional model generations are planned with improvements and expansion to support more forms of metastases. The goal is to further develop the solution into Qlucore Diagnostics, enabling CE marking and clinical use.

In late 2021, Qlucore, together with Heidelberg University Hospital, received a financial grant from the Eurostar's Joint European Programme. This EU programme provides financial support to promote European innovation and competitiveness. The grant amounts to approximately SEK 5.1m (€500,000). The new model is a result of this collaboration.

"The collaboration with the team from Heidelberg University Hospital is working very well, and we are pleased to see the first results from the project," says Carl-Johan Ivarsson, CEO of Qlucore.

The new classification model is based on Qlucore's knowledge and workflows for developing gene expression-based machine learning (ML) models (AI-based) and has been trained on hundreds of carefully selected tissue samples from lung cancer.

Precision diagnostics for cancer have advanced rapidly in recent years, driven by next-generation sequencing (NGS). Up until now, the focus has been on mutations and variants in the genetic code, which have been used for patient stratification and decisions on cancer treatment. However, there has been increasing interest in techniques based on measurements of gene activity levels (gene expression) as it provides additional opportunities to describe the type of treatment a patient should receive.

Qlucore Insights is intended for research and enables early testing and evaluation. Qlucore Insights is provided to hospitals, clinics, and laboratories via Qlucore's European sales force.

Qlucore Diagnostics fills an important gap in the workflow for clinical precision diagnostics. With disease-specific ML models that enable classification and a feature supporting clinical decision-making, including user-friendly 3D visualisations, it becomes possible to predict patients' responses to treatment. Qlucore Diagnostics is the future solution for personalised cancer treatment, and the goal is to obtain CE marking.

About Qlucore
Qlucore is a leading provider of new generation intuitive bioinformatics software for research and precision and companion diagnostics. Qlucore's mission is to make it easier to analyse the huge amounts of complex data generated by innovations in the fields of genomics and proteomics by providing powerful visualisation-based bioinformatics data analysis tools for research and precision diagnostics. Qlucore Omics Explorer software is a DIY bioinformatics software for research in the life sciences, plant and biotech industries, as well as academia. Qlucore Diagnostics and Qlucore Insights are software platforms with built in AI-based ML for multi-omics companion and precision diagnostics. Qlucore was founded in 2007 in Lund, Sweden and has customers in about 25 countries around the world, with sales offices in Europe and North America, and distribution in several countries in Asia. Visit: www.qlucore.com.