Bio-impedence characteristics of colorectal cancer tissue
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluation of bio-impedence properties of colorectal cancer tissue via nano-particle injection
IRAS ID
135339
Contact name
Richard Bayford
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Middlesex University
Research summary
Surgical resection specimens from consenting patients undergoing planned (elective) surgery for confirmed bowel cancer (defined as cancer of the colon or rectum) at St Mary’s Hospital (London, UK) will be analysed using electrical impedence spectroscopy. This will be performed directly on tissue specimens without removal of any tissue and will not disrupt the subsequent pathological evaluation process in any way. A secondary aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of gold nano-particle injection on colorectal cancer cells and for this component we propose to excise a small biopsy-sized (approximately 5x5mm in size) piece of tissue from the resection specimen (this will be performed by a senior gastrointestinal pathologist at St Mary’s Hospital - Professor Robert Goldin).
Primary study aim: Assessment of electrical impedence properties of colorectal cancer tissue and healthy adjacent tissue
This will employ the following methodology:
1) Application of current/voltage via electrodes to areas identified as cancerous and healthy area by pathologist.
2) Measurement of resulting voltage/current via electrodes
3) Impedence calculation based on voltage to current ratio
4) Impedence measurement across the frequency range 1Hz to 50MHz
The area subjected to impedence measurement in the specimen will be photographed for subsequent correlation of findings with histological features.Secondary study aim: Assessment of the uptake of small gold nano-particles by cancerous colorectal tissue. This may offer a means of enhancing impedence-based imaging and may also serve as a novel means of targeted delivery of anti-cancer therapies.
This will involve excision of small (5x5mm) biopsies of cancerous and healthy tissue from the resection specimen, which will be carried out by a pathologist from areas deemed surplus to requirements for the pathological assessment procedure.REC name
West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/WM/0320
Date of REC Opinion
8 Aug 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion