Researchers Develop Virtual Staining Technology for 3D Histopathology
The technology uses advanced optical techniques with AI-based deep learning algorithm to create realistic, virtually stained 3D images of cancer tissue without serial sectioning nor staining
From left: First author and PhD candidate Juyeon Park and professor YongKeun Park; Top left: Su-Jin Shin, professor at Gangnam Severance Hospital, and Tae Hyun Hwang, professor at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
Biomedical Optics Laboratory at KAIST/CC BY-NC-ND
Moving beyond traditional methods of observing thinly sliced and stained cancer tissues, a collaborative international research team led by The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) has successfully developed a groundbreaking technology. This innovation uses advanced optical techniques combined with an artificial intelligence (AI)-based deep learning algorithm to create realistic, virtually stained 3D images of cancer tissue without the need for serial sectioning nor staining. This breakthrough is anticipated to pave the way for next-generation non-invasive pathological diagnosis.
The research, led by first author Juyeon Park, a student of the integrated master’s and doctoral program at KAIST, was published online in the journal Nature Communications on May 22.
KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 26th that a research team led by Professor YongKeun Park of the Department of Physics, in collaboration with Professor Su-Jin Shin's team at Yonsei University Gangnam Severance Hospital, Professor Tae Hyun Hwang's team at Mayo Clinic, and Tomocube's AI research team, has developed an innovative technology capable of vividly displaying the 3D structure of cancer tissues without separate staining.
For over 200 years, conventional pathology has relied on observing cancer tissues under a microscope, a method that only shows specific cross-sections of the 3D cancer tissue. This has limited the ability to understand the three-dimensional connections and spatial arrangements between cells.
To overcome this, the research team utilized holotomography (HT), an advanced optical technology, to measure the 3D refractive index information of tissues. They then integrated an AI-based deep learning algorithm to successfully generate virtual H&E* images.
| H&E (Hematoxylin & Eosin): The most widely used staining method for observing pathological tissues. Hematoxylin stains cell nuclei blue, and eosin stains cytoplasm pink. |
The research team quantitatively demonstrated that the images generated by this technology are highly similar to actual stained tissue images. Furthermore, the technology exhibited consistent performance across various organs and tissues, proving its versatility and reliability as a next-generation pathological analysis tool.
Moreover, by validating the feasibility of this technology through joint research with hospitals and research institutions in Korea and the United States, utilizing Tomocube's holotomography equipment, the team demonstrated its potential for full-scale adoption in real-world pathological research settings.
Professor YongKeun Park stated, "This research marks a major advancement by transitioning pathological analysis from conventional 2D methods to comprehensive 3D imaging. It will greatly enhance biomedical research and clinical diagnostics, particularly in understanding cancer tumor boundaries and the intricate spatial arrangements of cells within tumor microenvironments."
This study was supported by the Leader Researcher Program of the National Research Foundation of Korea, the Global Industry Technology Cooperation Center Project of the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology, and the Korea Health Industry Development Institute.