Fluorescence targeted lymphatic mapping in colonic cancer
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigating the feasibility of fluorescence targeted lymphatic mapping during colon cancer surgery
IRAS ID
220652
Contact name
Christopher Cunningham
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Curative surgery for bowel cancer involves removing the segment of bowel containing the cancer and all of the draining glands (lymph nodes) that are involved. Using standard surgical techniques, the draining lymph nodes are removed with the bowel based on historical knowledge of their expected location. However, there can be, differences in where the lymph nodes lie, and this can occur in up to one quarter of patients. It is often difficult to identify the relevant lymph nodes without using special techniques.
Over the last few years there have been a number of techniques that have tried to identify the draining lymph nodes during bowel cancer operations. Recently there has been some encouraging early research showing that injection of a fluorescent dye into the tumour and using a special camera can help identify them.
Our study aims to assess a technique in mapping out the lymph nodes and to guide the surgeon during the operation. We will inject a special dye, indocyanine green (ICG), into the bowel cancer during the operation which will travel to the draining lymph nodes. A special camera which activates the dye, will then be used to display any fluorescent signal to the surgeon. The surgeon will then use this information during your operation and assess whether or not different sets of lymph nodes should be removed.REC name
South Central - Berkshire B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/SC/0492
Date of REC Opinion
11 Oct 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion