title: Automation of an algorithm based on fuzzy clustering for analyzing tumoral heterogeneity in human skin carcinoma tissue sections.
abstract: This study aims to develop a new FT-IR spectral imaging of tumoral tissue permitting a better characterization of tumor heterogeneity and tumor/surrounding tissue interface. Infrared (IR) data were acquired on 13 biopsies of paraffin-embedded human skin carcinomas. Our approach relies on an innovative fuzzy C-means (FCM)-based clustering algorithm, allowing the automatic and simultaneous estimation of the optimal FCM parameters (number of clusters K and fuzziness index m). FCM seems more suitable than classical 'hard' clusterings, as it permits the assignment of each IR spectrum to every cluster with a specific membership value. This characteristic allows differentiating the nuances in the assignment of pixels, particularly those corresponding to tumoral tissue and those located at the tumor/peritumoral tissue interface. FCM images permit to highlight a marked heterogeneity within the tumor and characterize the interconnection between tissular structures. For the infiltrative tumors, a progressive gradient in the membership values of the pixels of the invasive front was also revealed.
authors.affiliation: Unité MéDIAN, CNRS UMR 6237 MEDyC, UFR de Pharmacie, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Reims, France.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sebiskveradze
authors.forename: Valeriu
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vrabie
authors.forename: Cyril
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gobinet
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Durlach
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bernard
authors.forename: Elodie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ly
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manfait
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jeannesson
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Piot
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001331:Automation; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D017143:Fuzzy Logic; D006801:Humans; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared