Science & Technology, UK (Commonwealth Union) – The successful detection and treatment of cancer requires diagnostics and treatment to specifically distinguish the cancer cell from the normal cell. A PET (Positron emission tomography) usually involves radioactive glucose injected into the body and once injected as cancer cells consume much higher amounts of glucose in comparison to healthy calls the diagnosis of cancer can be carried out by the glucose consumption rate of the cancer cells.
A new method that puts together highly detailed, real-time images from within the body with a type of infrared light has, for the 1st time, been applied when a surgery was underway to distinguish between cancerous tumors and healthy tissue.
The researchers indicated that this may have implications for treating neuroblastoma, known to be the most common form of solid cancer tumor, other than brain tumors, seen in children. Surgical procedures to entirely take out the cancerous cells, can be challenging as they can appear similar to the healthy tissue in the surroundings.
Researchers at UCL and GOSH applied a method known as ‘molecular imaging’ as the surgery was underway, where chemicals injections into the bloodstream play a role in the visual aspects. The chemicals are drawn to cancerous cells within the body, and once attached, the probes light up via ‘fluorescence’ nthat is followed by lighting up of the tumor. The method applied during preclinical testing in mice, had positive outcome by indicating part of a tumor that had not been taken as the surgery was underway.
The scientists then sort to test if they could enhance the visual quality of the images, with the utilization of a ‘new’ type of light, short wave infrared light (SWIR), that become accessible in the recent past to researchers via the new technology.
The scientists made us of a special high definition camera to gather SWIR fluorescence. SWIR is not visible to the naked eye and has a wider wavelength than visible light. This permits it to penetrate deeper into the tissue to give sharper, more detailed images. The utilization of this method gave surgeons the capability to distinguish between cancerous tumors and healthy tissue when the preclinical tests were underway.
Team leader Dr Stefano Giuliani, Consultant Paediatric Surgeon at Great Ormond Street Hospital who is also Associate Professor at UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, says “Surgery to remove neuroblastoma requires a delicate balance. Remove too little and the tumour might grow back, but remove too much and the surgeon risks damaging the surrounding blood vessels, nerves and other healthy organs. This technique effectively lights up the tumour, allowing surgeons to remove it with unprecedented precision. We hope to be able to translate this innovative technology into clinical practice at GOSH as soon as possible to benefit the largest number of children with cancerous tumours.”
Neuroblastoma is a type of childhood cancer that develops in the nerve cells, specifically in the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the “fight or flight” response. This type of cancer is usually found in infants and young children and can occur in various parts of the body, but most commonly in the abdomen or near the spine.
The symptoms of neuroblastoma can vary depending on the location and stage of the cancer. Common symptoms include abdominal pain, a lump or mass in the abdomen or neck, difficulty breathing, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, and fever. Neuroblastoma is said to makeup 8-10 percent of all childhood cancers and roughly 15 percent of childhood deaths from cancer.
Scientists at GOSH and UCL WEISS are presently focused on speeding up the technology to be used in an operating theatre at GOSH within the next 12 months to the benefit of children having cancerous tumors.
