Systems and methods are disclosed for generating a specialized machine learning model by receiving a generalized machine learning model generated by processing a plurality of first training images to predict at least one cancer characteristic, receiving a plurality of second training images, the first training images and the second training images include images of tissue specimens and/or images algorithmically generated to replicate tissue specimens, receiving a plurality of target specialized attributes related to a respective second training image of the plurality of second training images, generating a specialized machine learning model by modifying the generalized machine learning model based on the plurality of second training images and the target specialized attributes, receiving a target image corresponding to a target specimen, applying the specialized machine learning model to the target image to determine at least one characteristic of the target image, and outputting the characteristic of the target image.