An AI Algorithm for Lymphocyte Focus Score of Minor Salivary Gland Biopsy Samples for Diagnosing Sjogren's Syndrome

April 24, 2026 updated by: Moyingqian, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University

An Artificial Intelligence Algorithm for Lymphocyte Focus Score in Whole Slide Images of Minor Salivary Gland Biopsy Samples for Diagnosing Sjogren's Syndrome : a Blinded Clinical Validation and Deployment Study

The aim of this research is to discover an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm for lymphocyte focus score in whole slide images of labial minor salivary gland (SG) biopsy samples for diagnosing Sjogren's Syndrome, in order to enhance the precision of pathological interpretation of labial minor SG biopsy samples in patients with suspected Sjogren's syndrome and aid clinicians make an accurate diagnose. A remote AI-assisted pathological interpretation platform for lymphocyte focus score in labial SG will be built for the global based on the research results. The research will propose the AI-assisted pathological interpretation of lymphocyte focus score in labial minor SG biopsy samples in the future guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of Sjogren's syndrome.

The research will：

  1. Develop and debug the AI algorithm for lymphocyte focus score in whole slide images of labial minor SG biopsy samples for diagnosing Sjogren's Syndrome;
  2. Internal test of the AI algorithm;
  3. Clinical validation of the AI algorithm with blind method in multiple centers; 4）Built a remote AI-assisted pathological interpretation platform for lymphocyte focus score in labial SG for the global and Explore its clinical application.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Detailed Description

  1. Develop and debug the AI algorithm for lymphocyte focus score in whole slide images of labial minor SG biopsy samples for diagnosing Sjogren's Syndrome; A total of 200 H&E staining slides of labial minor SG biopsy samples are collected from Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University and scanned into digital pathological images. The ground truth of gland tissue area and lymphocyte foci numbers in each image is interpreted by three senior pathologists with over 5 years of related experience.
  2. Internal test of the AI algorithm; A total of 500 additional digital pathological images of labial gland biopsy tissues are collected from Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. The ground truth of gland tissue area and lymphocyte foci numbers in each images is interpreted by three senior pathologists with over 5 years of related experience. The AI algorithm's accuracy, specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value in evaluating the area of labial gland and the number of lymphocyte foci are calculated. Comparison of whether the image meets the criteria for Sjögren's syndrome (focus score greater than 1) is also conducted between the AI algorithm and the ground truth.
  3. Clinical validation of the AI algorithm with blind method in multiple centers; A total of 600 additional digital pathological images of labial gland biopsy tissues are collected from six external centers. The ground truth of gland tissue area and lymphocyte foci numbers in each images is interpreted by three senior pathologists with over 5 years of related experience. The AI algorithm's accuracy, specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value in evaluating the area of labial gland and the number of lymphocyte foci are calculated. Comparison of whether the image meets the criteria for Sjögren's syndrome (focus score greater than 1) is also conducted between the AI algorithm and the ground truth.

4）Built a remote AI-assisted pathological interpretation platform for lymphocyte focus score in labial SG for the global and Explore its clinical application.

Digital pathological images of labial gland biopsy tissue can be uploaded to the Labial Gland Pathological Focus Score Remoting platform. AI-assisted pathological interpretation on gland tissue area, lymphocyte foci numbers, and whether meeting the criteria for Sjögren's syndrome (focus score greater than 1) is compared with the ground truth.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
1000

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • China
    • Guangdong
      • Guangzhou, Guangdong, China, 510120
        • Ying-Qian Mo

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The suspected SjS patients presenting with ocular dryness and/or oral dryness, as determined by the American-European Consensus Group (AECG) questions

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • The original format of digital pathological images of labial gland biopsy tissue from patients with suspected Sjögren's Syndrome uploaded to the designated platform.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Overlapping layers of cells due to excessively thick sections;
  2. Excessive tissue defects caused by incomplete sectioning or poor staining on slides;
  3. Absence of labial gland;
  4. Insufficient clarity in the image.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
The accuracy of pathological interpretation of focal index of labial gland tissue
Time Frame: during the procedure
The ground truth of gland tissue area and lymphocyte foci numbers in consecutive images is interpreted by three senior pathologists with over 5 years of related experience. The focal score is determined by the gland tissue area and the number of lymphocyte foci. AI-assisted interpretation is compared with ground truth.
during the procedure

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
The precision of pathological interpretation regarding the area of glandular tissue and the count of lymphocyte foci in labial gland tissue.
Time Frame: during the procedure
AI-assisted interpretation is compared with ground truth.
during the procedure

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
October 1, 2023

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
August 30, 2024

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
October 30, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
May 11, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 30, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
May 31, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
April 30, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 24, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • SYSKY-2023-915-01

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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