A novel imaging technique for cancer detection in lymph nodes
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A novel three-dimensional whole organ imaging technique to detect cancer cells in lymph nodes in oesophagogastric cancer
IRAS ID
279695
Contact name
George Hanna
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College London
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 29 days
Research summary
Summary of Research
Oesophagogastric cancer (cancer of the gullet and stomach) is the fifth most common cancer in England and Wales with 16,000 new cases diagnosed every year. Survival rates are poor with only 15% surviving beyond 5 years. There is a high risk of the cancer spreading, and the first site is commonly the lymph nodes surrounding the gullet and stomach. During the operation to the remove the cancer, these lymph nodes are also removed and examined under a microscope to check for cancer. These results give us information about further treatment and patient outcomes. Cancer which has spread from the stomach or oesophagus to the lymph nodes can be very small, less than 1mm in size, and therefore is at risk of being missed. A novel three-dimensional imaging technique (Fast light-microscopic analysis of antibody-stained whole organs (FLASH)) has been designed to detect abnormal cell patterns and/or abnormal cell structures which may indicate cancer. This feature is a known hallmark of cancer cells. The objective of this study is to assess the cancer detection rate in (i) lymph nodes and (ii) oesophagogastric cancer using this new technique, in comparison to the gold standard method of microscopic examination. This new method has the potential to accurately identify cancer cells which may improve treatment decisions and outcomes for patients, and secondarily be cost-effective and time efficient.
Summary of Results
This study aimed to develop a novel three-dimensional whole organ imaging method for the detection of metastatic deposits in lymph nodes in oesophagogastric cancer patients. The method was optimised to detect small cancer deposits within lymph nodes with the new technology. Currently lymph nodes are still being processed, although recruitment has ceased. Detection is being compared to the gold standard histopathological examination.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/NW/0202
Date of REC Opinion
26 Jun 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion