Predictive-AI Algorithm Successfully Identifies Common Cancerous Gene Mutations at Hadassah Cancer Research Institute
Breakthrough research at Hadassah identifies all possible cancer-causing mutations of a key gene (TP53) found in 50% of tumours.
The Hadassah Cancer Research Institute at the Hadassah University Medical Centre in Jerusalem, announced today that using artificial intelligence (AI), researchers have developed, an algorithm to identify, with an unprecedented 96.5% level of accuracy, all possible deleterious mutations of TP53 gene which are commonly found in 50% of tumours. This breakthrough can potentially lead to improved genetic screening and consultation and to improved precision medicine for cancer patients.
This ground-breaking algorithm was trained using AI, huge cancer and normal genomics databases coupled with computational and experimental parameters specific to TP53 gene. Prof. Thierry Soussi (Sorbonne Université, Paris, France), a world leading researcher of TP53 gene, lent his expertise to an international research collaboration, led by Dr. Shai Rosenberg, aimed at increasing identification of variants posing risk of developing cancer from variants that are not, from 190 (in the ClinVar database) to all 2,314 possible missense variants.
“The research and technology behind this breakthrough not only provide life-saving screening for carriers of previously unknown cancerous mutations who may be at increased risk, but it is also critical for genomic analysis of somatic mutation profiles in all tumours,” said Prof. Michal Lotem, MD, Head of the Hadassah Centre for Melanoma and Cancer Immunotherapy, Dept. of Oncology.
This gene-specific, AI approach can be generalised to other cancer genes and thus, contribute to more accurate genetic screening and consultation. Additionally, it can lead to more effective precision medicine for oncological patients by the creation of customised cancer treatment decision support systems that are able to identify and discern the important mutations that require treatment from the total number of somatic mutations of the tumour.
“Hadassah Medical Centre has been at the forefront of promoting technological innovation in medicine in order to provide patients in our care with the most advanced treatment options,” said Prof. Aron Popovtzer a Professor of Radiation Oncology and Head of the Sharett Institute of Oncology. “Following this important milestone, Dr. Rosenberg’s research group will continue actively working to develop similar models for additional cancer genes.”
Read the full article by Dr. Rosenberg, published in the prestigious – Briefings in Bioinformatics Journal. Dr. Rosenberg is a physician-researcher at Hadassah Medical Centre. He is a senior Neuro-Oncologist and heads the Laboratory for Computational Biology of Cancer. He is a graduate of the Rothschild Excellence Program and the Technion’s MD-PhD Program. He heads the Sagol program for dual degree in Medicine and Computer Science in the Faculty of Medicine in the Hebrew University.
This research is funded by Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Trudy Mandel Louis Charitable Trust, Y.M.H and Hadassah-France. The research of Professor Soussi by Hadassah France.
For more information on the Hadassah Cancer Research Institute, contact:
Amalia Herszkowicz Hadassah Research Institute (HCRI) at amaliah@hadassah.org.il
Editor’s Notes
JERUSALEM – FEBRUARY 2022 – NEWS PROVIDED BY Hadassah Cancer Research Institute
Corresponding authors: Gil Ben Cohen, Gaffin Centre for Neuro Oncology, Sharett Institute for Oncology, The Wohl Institute for Translational Medicine. Hadassah Medical Centre and Faculty of Medicine.
Shai Rosenberg, Gaffin Centre for Neuro-Oncology, Sharett Institute for Oncology, The Wohl Institute for Translational Medicine. Hadassah Medical Centre and Faculty of Medicine.
