Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 18, 2025
Reconstruct Human Retinoblastoma In Vitro
Published on: October 11, 2022
Digital retinoblastoma documentation supports care and research
Brenda L Gallie1, Kaitlyn Flegg2, Tran Truong3
1Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON; International Retinoblastoma Consortium; Princess Margaret Cancer Center/University Health Network, Toronto, ON; Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON; Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON..
Insights
Digital drawings and timelines for retinoblastoma care have evolved from paper to advanced digital platforms. The new DEPICT system offers global access to digital retinoblastoma care, enhancing patient and family involvement.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Oncology
- Digital Health
Background:
- Historically, retinoblastoma documentation relied on manual methods like colored pencils.
- The eCancerCareRB (eCCRB) system at SickKids introduced digital drawings and timelines to improve patient care, education, and research.
- This digital approach marked a significant advancement over traditional paper-based records.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of the eCancerCareRB (eCCRB) system in managing retinoblastoma.
- To introduce and assess the capabilities of the new DEPICT HEALTH (DEPICT) system for global digital retinoblastoma care.
- To demonstrate the evolution of digital tools in pediatric cancer management.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the eCCRB timeline to track patient treatments and dates.
- Employed the SwimmerRB tool to analyze eCCRB data, identifying tumor recurrence and treatment effectiveness.
- Developed a "consequence" scoring system for standard retinoblastoma treatments to quantify outcomes.
Main Results:
- The eCCRB system included 700 retinoblastoma patients treated between 2001 and 2023.
- SwimmerRB analysis compared different intra-arterial chemotherapy regimens and treatment effectiveness.
- The study laid the groundwork for the cloud-based DEPICT system, poised to replace the outdated eCCRB.
Conclusions:
- eCCRB served as a successful prototype for the cloud-based DEPICT system.
- DEPICT aims to provide comprehensive digital retinoblastoma care globally, empowering families as partners.
- DEPICT will be accessible through the International Retinoblastoma Consortium for worldwide implementation.
Introduction:
In 1948, the indirect ophthalmoscope revealed full intra-ocular retinoblastoma, documented on paper with coloured pencils. At SickKids, eCancerCareRB (eCCRB) digital drawings and timeline have facilitated patient care, education, and research.
Methods:
Each child's eCCRB timeline shows treatments and dates. The SwimmerRB tool presents eCCRB data for research with time "0" start of intervention. Any tumour treatment after the intervention indicates recurrence; no cancer treatments indicate complete response. To further quantify the impact of retinoblastoma on child/family, we arbitrarily assigned a "consequence" score to each standard treatment (i.e., focal = 1, intra-arterial chemotherapy = 3, enucleation last eye = 30). Retrospective control eCCRB patients were matched to study participants by similar "propensity" scores before time "0." Postintervention scores indicated effectiveness.
Results:
eCCRB included 700 patients with retinoblastoma treated between 2001 and 2023 at SickKids. SwimmerRB facilitated comparing eCCRB patients treated with single- versus triple-drug intra-arterial chemotherapy. In the phase 1 Chemoplaque Clinical Trial, SwimmerRB analysis compared number of treatments before and after the Chemoplaque. Consequence scores quantitating negative outcomes will be refined by quality-of-life studies including those with lived experience. DEPICT HEALTH (DEPICT) on the cloud-hosted technology will soon replace eCCRB (now-outdated technology), offering digital retinoblastoma care to the world.
Discussion:
eCCRB (only in SickKids) is the time-tested prototype for DEPICT on the cloud. DEPICT brings digital retinal drawings, timeline, research, and clinical consultation to full view for families as partners in retinoblastoma care. DEPICT will be offered through the International Retinoblastoma Consortium to any site caring for children with retinoblastoma.
