The broad, long-term goal of this project is consistent, standardized diagnostic testing of surgical biopsies by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The methods to achieve this goal are well understood in the field of clinical laboratory testing: (1) standardization of reagents and protocols, (2) automation to reduce human errors, and (3) the use of standardized controls to provide test performance feedback. Over the last two decades, the first two of these three methods were implemented for IHC testing. This grant project focuses on the third - standardized controls. Current practice teaches non-standardized controls. Each histopathology lab typically procures test controls from leftover tissue samples in its own paraffin block archives. This is a strikingly different practice from clinical blood laboratories, where standardized and validated controls are produced in large quantities and sold through commercial vendors. Since each human tissue is a limited resource, present practice is inherently non-standardized. We have developed an innovative technical solution to this problem, summarized in a series of papers. After both in-house testing and a national study performed with the College of American Pathologists, the technology ran into a regulatory roadblock. As a """"""""revolutionary"""""""" (rather than """"""""evolutionary"""""""") assay control, the FDA set a high regulatory bar that made the project commercially unfeasible in its previous form. Using the same chemistry, we have re-designed the technology so as to address the previous regulatory roadblock.
The Specific Aims of this Phase I - II Fast-Track proposal revolve around experimental validation, for regulatory purposes, of this re-designed new class of assay control. The Phase I Aims include analytical validation of the new product design, including an assessment of sensitivity, specificity, stability, and reproducibility. The Phase II aims address clinical validation, which will uniquely test and validate the role of standardization in IHC controls. Although our focus is initially in the area of breast cancer tests, this effort opens an entirely new market, to include other IHC controls products. The applicant group comprises a broad, multi-disciplinary team, including the original research team, statistical and database management staff from the Tufts Clinical &Translational Science Institute (CTSI), surgical pathologists, a regulatory affairs consultant, and an IHC commercial operations specialist. Phase II also includes a collaboration with the College of American Pathologists. At the conclusion of Phase II, we will have all of the FDA regulatory submission data for transition to commercialization. This project will lead to the creation of the first set of FDA-cleared nationall standardized IHC test controls. In converting clinical laboratories from a homebrew practice, the impact will be transformative, especially for the newer quantitative tests that demand a higher level of accuracy.

Public Health Relevance

This project is to fund the clinical regulatory studies for a new, first-in-class, type of clinical test control in the field of cancer immunohistochemistry (IHC) testing. Clinical test controls are important for promoting test reproducibility and standardizatio. As the first standardized IHC controls product for FDA submission, this project will clear a path for the development of an entirely new market.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Small Business Innovation Research Grants (SBIR) - Phase II (R44)
Project #
1R44CA183203-01
Application #
8647122
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-IMST-L (11))
Program Officer
Rahbar, Amir M
Project Start
2014-05-21
Project End
2014-11-30
Budget Start
2014-05-21
Budget End
2014-11-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
$219,202
Indirect Cost
Name
Medical Discovery Partners, LLC
Department
Type
DUNS #
126775860
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02118
Vani, Kodela; Sompuram, Seshi R; Schaedle, Anika K et al. (2017) The Importance of Epitope Density in Selecting a Sensitive Positive IHC Control. J Histochem Cytochem 65:463-477
Vani, Kodela; Sompuram, Seshi R; Schaedle, Anika K et al. (2017) Analytic Response Curves of Clinical Breast Cancer IHC Tests. J Histochem Cytochem 65:273-283
Vani, Kodela; Sompuram, Seshi R; Naber, Stephen P et al. (2016) Levey-Jennings Analysis Uncovers Unsuspected Causes of Immunohistochemistry Stain Variability. Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol 24:688-694
Sompuram, Seshi R; Vani, Kodela; Tracey, Brian et al. (2015) Standardizing Immunohistochemistry: A New Reference Control for Detecting Staining Problems. J Histochem Cytochem 63:681-90