Feasibility of a molecular imaging camera for surgical specimen analysis

Nearly 1 in 4 breast cancer patients in the UK will require re-operation after surgery. The consequences, in addition to repeat operations, include delayed adjuvant treatment, increased likelihood of distant recurrence, poorer cosmetic outcomes, emotional distress, and enormous financial cost to the NHS. Breast cancer requires re-operation so frequently after surgery primarily due to incomplete excision of the tumour. Surgeons are unable to completely remove the cancerous tissue because the only tools surgeons have to detect cancer during surgery are visual and tactile assessment. Consequently, there is a tremendous medical need for improved tools to detect cancer during surgery.
In this project, the consortium will explore the feasibility of a novel molecular imaging technology for analysing surgical specimens in real time during surgery. The technology is based on Cerenkov Luminescence Imaging (CLI), a groundbreaking imaging modality that can perform optical imaging of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging agents. The consortium consists of an interdisciplinary team of engineer-entrepreneurs, medical device developers, biologists, and oncology surgeons. The project will evaluate the feasibility of the technology before embarking on full-scale prototype development and clinical testing.