Improving the Diagnosis of a Rare Uterine Cancer
Uterine leiomyosarcoma (uLMS) is a rare and aggressive cancer of the uterus. When diagnosed at an advanced stage, the five-year survival rate is less than 50%. It is difficult to identify because it can resemble benign tumors commonly known as fibroids or leiomyomas. This misdiagnosis can have serious consequences: some patients undergo unnecessary hysterectomies (removal of the uterus), losing possibility of having children, while others have their cancer go undetected, delaying treatment and reducing their chances of recovery.
Imaging and Artificial Intelligence for Diagnosis
With the financial support of the Cancer Research Society (CRS), Dr. Caroline Reinhold, a researcher at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center (RI-MUHC), is leading the “Validating MRI Biomarkers and Radiomics for leiomyosArcoma assessmeNt and Treatment” (VIBRANT) project, which aims to improve the detection of this cancer by combining advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques with artificial intelligence (AI).
MRI provides highly detailed images of tumors, while AI helps analyze these images more precisely than the human eye. The project also incorporates radiomics, a method that extracts a large amount of information from medical images to reveal features invisible to standard examination, as well as biomarkers, which are measurable biological indicators related to the presence or behavior of cancer. By combining these different sources of information and comparing them to pathological results, her team aims to better distinguish benign fibroids from uLMS in order to determine whether surgical intervention is necessary.
This approach could provide doctors with a reliable tool, helping to reduce diagnostic errors and enabling more tailored care for patients.
The Cancer Research Society plays a transformative role in the cancer research ecosystem in Canada by enabling projects that would otherwise remain underfunded, particularly those addressing rare and neglected cancers. In gynecologic oncology, uterine leiomyosarcoma is a devastating but understudied disease. CRS funding empowers researchers to explore advanced imaging and artificial intelligence approaches that can radically improve how these tumors are diagnosed and managed ensuring that women with rare cancers are not left behind.
Your impact
CRS funds research on all types of cancer. This project highlights the importance of supporting rare cancers, which are often less well understood and harder to diagnose. The support of the CRS and its donors allows researchers to develop innovative approaches, such as using AI to improve clinical decision-making. The methods developed could eventually be applied to other types of cancer, strengthening the healthcare system’s ability to provide more accurate diagnoses and more targeted care.
Project Title: VIBRANT-Validating MRI Biomarkers & Radiomics for leiomyosArcoma assessmeNt and Treatment
Quebec
2025-2027,
$135,000