From Now to NEXT: AI-Driven Neuroblastoma Diagnostics

(Vienna, 25.04.2023) A follow-up project, aiming to address the urgent need for advanced diagnostic tools in ultra-high-risk pediatric cancer research was funded by the WWTF NEXT Call. By developing a web-based app, Sabine Taschner-Mandl seeks to empower diagnostic laboratories to conduct tests independently, enhancing the precision and speed of cancer diagnosis.

Recent research has delved into ultra-high-risk pediatric cancer, focusing on the combinatorial drivers and therapeutic targets for precision medicine. Despite increased survival rates due to extensive research and therapeutic optimization studies, a subset of patients remains who do not respond adequately to conventional therapies, such as combination chemotherapy, often relapsing within months. These patients are classified as ultra-high-risk and require new therapeutic concepts based on genetic or epigenetic alterations in tumors, which are not always sufficiently understood.

The Challenge of Current Diagnostic Approaches

The current challenge lies in the complexity and cost of evaluating genetic changes linked to ultra-high-risk neuroblastoma. A developed[WS1]  test can detect alterations at the chromosome ends associated with this cancer. However, the test’s reliance on AI support necessitates the involvement of data scientists for analysis, complicating and slowing the evaluation process and increasing costs.

Innovative Solutions Through the NEXT Call

To address this issue, the WWTF’s NEXT Call supports the continuation of research where results and ideas of significant societal or economic importance emerge. Sabine Taschner-Mandl and her team aim to create a web-based application allowing diagnostic laboratories to perform tests independently without external assistance. This innovation would enable diagnostic labs in Vienna and Germany, as well as clinical networks across Europe, to conduct AI-supported analysis of genetic changes in cancer cells. The result is a more rapid, targeted diagnosis and treatment for rare pediatric cancers, significantly advancing the field of precision medicine.