TumourVue v0.1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
TumourVue: Precise Intraoperative Tumour Localisation
IRAS ID
355267
Contact name
Gita Khalili Moghaddam
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Cambridge
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 22 days
Research summary
Brain tumours are among the most aggressive and life-threatening cancers, with glioblastoma being the most common and deadly form. Surgery remains the cornerstone of treatment, but precise tumour removal is challenging due to the tumour's invasive nature. Incomplete removal can lead to tumour recurrence and reduced survival rates.
This secondary analysis of the TumourVue study aims to use advanced computer vision tools to process previously collected imaging data. Data were gathered intraoperatively using long-wavelength passive infrared (LWpIR) and visible light cameras. The objective is to segment tumour regions on LWpIR images and compare them with visible light imaging to assess potential benefits of thermal imaging in tumour localisation.
Since the primary ethics approval for data collection has been completed, this request pertains only to the secondary analysis of anonymised imaging data. No new patient involvement or data collection will occur. The image processing will be performed using machine learning and image segmentation techniques to determine the effectiveness of LWpIR imaging in delineating tumour margins compared to standard visible light imaging.
The original TumourVue study was sponsored by Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and funded by MedTech Accelerator. This secondary analysis is sponsored by the University of Cambridge only. This study complies with all ethical and data protection regulations, ensuring that patient confidentiality is strictly maintained. All analysis will be conducted using anonymised data on secure, offline systems to prevent unauthorised access.
The potential benefits include improved tumour margin detection, enhanced computer-aided surgical decision-making, and the development of more precise imaging-based surgical techniques. If successful, this analysis could pave the way for future clinical applications of LWpIR imaging in brain tumour surgery, ultimately improving patient outcomes.
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 2
REC reference
25/NS/0022
Date of REC Opinion
26 Feb 2025
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion