by Sherry Divali
Khan Iftekharuddin, a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Old Dominion University and director of the Virginia Beach Data Science Institute, received a $2.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health. The grant will fund his work on creating new AI tools and computer models, helping doctors identify whether glioblastoma (a type of brain tumor) has returned, or whether brain changes are due to treatment. His research may also help identify how aggressive the different types of glioblastoma tumors are.
The results of this study will allow physicians to choose more personalized treatments for their patients. In some circumstances, this may mean that patients can avoid surgery and focus on improving their quality of life.
Glioblastoma is the most aggressive and deadly brain tumor, killing around 10,000 Americans each year, accounting for half of all brain tumor deaths in the United States, but the rapidly growing cancer spreads as small cancer cells migrate into healthy tissue. Survival in these patients is usually limited to 18-24 months from diagnosis.
Even after active treatment protocols including surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy, the disease recurs in 90% of cases within 6-9 months, contributing to a poor overall prognosis.
Diagnosis of recurrence is difficult as treatment-related changes in brain tissue, such as scars and swelling, can appear similar to tumor tissue on standard imaging scans such as MRI. Currently, the only way to check if the tumor has returned is through an invasive brain biopsy. Dr. Iftekharuddin's research explores how non-invasive AI and machine learning methods and modeling can help distinguish true tumor recurrence without surgery.
The grant is based on the 2016 awards of Dr. Iftecardin from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering. It focuses on more accurate methods to model, analyze and analyze brain tumors and other abnormal tissue loads, track tumor growth, classify tumors, and predict patient survival.
The new grant focuses on identifying recurrence of glioblastoma and classifying tumor subtypes. This may help doctors predict recurrence aggression.
“Given the limited life expectancy of these patients after diagnosis, I think it's important to understand recurrent glioblastoma and its aggressive subtypes and how much it can be quantified,” he said. “If we can confidently detect this subtype, the treatment protocol could be individualized for each patient.”
Dr. Iftekharuddin works with clinicians in healthcare facilities across the country, including Ohio State University, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Jefferson Medical College, University of San Diego, and Veterans. Using a large dataset of histopathology, genomics, molecular research and MRI scans, we are building computational models and AI methods that are reviewed by radiologists, oncologists and other experts to ensure accuracy and reliability.
“The new award will allow Dr. Iftecardin to begin diagnosis in the treatment of brain tumors, reducing risk, improving treatment effectiveness and ultimately improving patient outcomes,” said the dean of Batten University's Faculty of Engineering.
