Improving Performance in Colorectal Cancer Histology Decomposition using Deep and Ensemble Machine Learning

TL;DR

This paper presents a hybrid deep and ensemble machine learning model that significantly improves tissue classification accuracy in colorectal cancer histology images, aiding biomarker discovery and patient prognosis.

Contribution

The study introduces a novel hybrid deep and ensemble learning approach that outperforms previous methods in tissue classification accuracy for colorectal cancer histology images.

Findings

Achieved 96.74% accuracy on external test set.

Achieved 99.89% accuracy on internal test set.

Models are publicly available for further research.

Abstract

In routine colorectal cancer management, histologic samples stained with hematoxylin and eosin are commonly used. Nonetheless, their potential for defining objective biomarkers for patient stratification and treatment selection is still being explored. The current gold standard relies on expensive and time-consuming genetic tests. However, recent research highlights the potential of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) in facilitating the extraction of clinically relevant biomarkers from these readily available images. These CNN-based biomarkers can predict patient outcomes comparably to golden standards, with the added advantages of speed, automation, and minimal cost. The predictive potential of CNN-based biomarkers fundamentally relies on the ability of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to classify diverse tissue types from whole slide microscope images accurately. Consequently, enhancing the accuracy of tissue class decomposition is critical to amplifying the prognostic potential of imaging-based biomarkers. This study introduces a hybrid Deep and ensemble machine learning model that surpassed all preceding solutions for this classification task. Our model achieved 96.74% accuracy on the external test set and 99.89% on the internal test set. Recognizing the potential of these models in advancing the task, we have made them publicly available for further research and development.