Rapid Optical Diagnosis of Breast Cancer
This technology is an optical biopsy system based on elastic scattering spectroscopy. No tissue processing is required, and the results are available instantly, needing no expert pathologist interpretation. The equipment is low cost, and there are potential applications in detecting cancer and pre-cancer in a wide range of organs.
| Date added | 07 Dec 2009 |
|---|---|
| Reference number | 11-004 |
| Status | Patent application submitted (WO 2007/099336; cancer detection system). |
| Availability | Exclusive & Non-exclusive licensing |
| References | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1856278/?tool=pmcentrez&report=abstract |
The technology and its advantages
Currently during surgery for breast cancer, sentinel lymph nodes are excised and tested for malignancy using touch imprint cytology and frozen section histology which are time consuming and costly, requiring tissue processing and subsequent interpretation by an expert pathologist. There is a need for a simple, rapid technique that can be undertaken by non-expert operating theatre staff and give a reliable result fast enough for the surgeon to decide during the same operation whether or not full auxiliary dissection is required.
Inventors at University College London have developed a novel Elastic Scattering Spectroscopy device – or optical biopsy - where surface of excised nodes is scanned using short pulses of white light to detect the presence of cancer. Each pixel (400 pixels per cm2) is interrogated by a light pulse delivered by a thin optical fibre just touching a fibreoptic plate covering the tissue surface. A second fibre immediately adjacent to the first collects the light scattered by the tissue. Multivariate statistical analysis can be used to recognize patterns within the collected spectra, which can then be used to discriminate between spectra from malignant and benign tissue. Computer analysis gives the results as a simple yes/no answer as to whether or not cancer is present. The specificity for detecting cancer is 96%.
Market opportunity
The technology comprises low cost equipment that will enable rapid in situ cancer diagnosis in excised sentinel lymph nodes during breast cancer surgery, eliminating both the need for tissue processing and the need for expert pathologist interpretation
Further information
Please contact Chris Loryman, UCL Business PLC
T +44 (0)20 7679 9000
E c.loryman@uclb.com
