Optical probe for skin cancer screening developed at UBC. Credit: UBC
Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, is diagnosed in more than 130,000 people globally every year. Now, work is being done on a tool to help in its early detection: a simple, compact laser probe that can distinguish between harmless moles and cancerous ones – in a matter of seconds.
“With skin cancer, there’s a saying that if you can spot it you can stop it – and that’s exactly what this probe is designed to do,” said researcher Daniel Louie, a PhD student who constructed the device as part of his studies in biomedical engineering at the University of British Columbia. “We set out to develop this technology using inexpensive materials, so the final device would be easy to manufacture and widely used as a preliminary screening tool for skin cancer.”
The probe works on the principle that light waves change as they pass through objects. The researchers aimed a laser into skin tissue from volunteer patients and studied the changes that occurred to this light beam.
“Because cancer cells are denser, larger and more irregularly shaped than normal cells, they cause distinctive scattering in the light waves as they pass through,” said Louie. “We were able to invent a novel way to interpret these patterns instantaneously.”
Imaging devices to assist cancer detection are not new, but this optical probe can extract measurements without needing expensive lenses or cameras, and it can provide a more easily interpreted numerical result like those of a thermometer. Although the probe’s components cost only a few hundred dollars total, it is not envisioned to be a consumer product.
“A cancer screening tool should be administered by a trained health care professional who would know where the patient needs to go afterwards,” said Tim Lee, an associate professor of skin science and dermatology at UBC and a senior scientist at both BC Cancer and the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, who supervised the work. He believes the device would be a good future addition to standard cancer screening methods, but not a replacement.
Noting that about 7,200 new cases of melanoma are reported every year in Canada, Lee believes the probe can promote early detection of this cancer.
“We have so few dermatologists relative to the growing number of skin cancers that are occurring,” said Lee. “If we can develop a device that can be integrated easily into other parts of the health care system, we can simplify the screening process and potentially save hundreds if not thousands of lives.”
The study, described in the Journal of Biomedical Optics, involved 69 lesions from 47 volunteer patients at the Vancouver General Hospital Skin Care Centre and is a joint project among UBC, BC Cancer and VCHRI. For their next steps, the researchers hope to eventually achieve Health Canada certification and approval before being able to offer this testing through health professionals. This will require further refinement of their technology and additional clinical testing in more patients.
Learn more: Low-cost ‘cancer probe’ could spot deadly melanoma early
The Latest on: Melanoma
via Google News
The Latest on: Melanoma
- Melanoma can be prevented with regular skin checks and the 'ABCDE' rule: American Academy of Dermatologyon May 24, 2022 at 2:16 pm
More than 90% of melanoma skin cancer cases are from skin damage due to ultraviolent radiation as the American Academy of Dermatology recommends regular skin self examinations.
- Reno mom survives melanoma, wants to spread awarenesson May 23, 2022 at 4:22 pm
May is skin cancer awareness month.
- Merck's (MRK) Keytruda Gets CHMP Nod for Expanded Melanoma Useon May 23, 2022 at 7:14 am
Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended the label expansion of its blockbuster cancer drug, Keytruda, as monotherapy for the adjuvant treatment of patients aged 12 years ...
- A Decade of Transformation in Melanoma Treatmentson May 23, 2022 at 3:10 am
Flaherty began treating patients with advanced melanoma 2 decades ago, his recommendation was simple: If you’re eligible, enroll in a clinical trial. As late as 20 ...
- What is Ocular Melanoma?on May 23, 2022 at 2:41 am
Ocular melanoma is the most prevalent type of cancer affecting the eye. It is known as the second most common type of melanoma. It occurs in pigment-producing cells. Melanocytes in the ...
- Promising peptide slows the spread and growth of melanoma in miceon May 23, 2022 at 12:59 am
Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, thanks to its ability to rapidly spread to other organs. Brazilian researchers have now developed a peptide that seems to slow the growth and spread of ...
- How to tell a mole from melanomaon May 20, 2022 at 2:14 pm
Dermatologists want to bring awareness to melanoma a deadly disease. In fact, more than one million people are living with It’s the deadliest form of skin cancer. Claiming the life of one person each ...
- Peptide delays melanoma growth in animal trialson May 20, 2022 at 9:16 am
An article published in Scientific Reports describes a study demonstrating the effectiveness of a peptide developed by Brazilian scientists, called Rb4, in combating cancer progression in an animal ...
- Melanoma: Who is at risk and what can you do to prevent it?on May 18, 2022 at 12:12 pm
Studies show fair-skinned people have a higher risk of developing it, but anyone can get it. Melanoma does not discriminate. But does it only occur on your skin? “The doctor that saw me that day, ...
- Protecting yourself, your family from melanoma and skin canceron May 16, 2022 at 1:30 pm
With warm weather here, doctors at Fox Chase Cancer Center are sounding the alarm about skin cancer as cases rise in people under 40, especially younger women. Here's how you can protect yourself ...
via Bing News