Experts at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh are developing a new system that will help surgeons better distinguish cancer cells from normal tissues and remove them without damaging the surrounding healthy tissue. The new system will be based on an ultrafast picosecond laser pointer, which provides energy in a pulse train of one trillionth of a second long.
The professor received a £1.2 million grant from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council to develop the system. The team has proven that this concept is effective for colorectal cancer and is now working with clinicians from the University of Leeds and Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust Fund to develop a new system for brain cancer.
We used to focus on colorectal cancer. Experiments have proved that our laser system can remove cancer cells in a way that limits damage to surrounding healthy cells within almost the same width of human hair. Based on the understanding of colorectal cancer surgery using laser in clinic, we are working hard to apply it to brain cancer, head and neck cancer, and bring huge benefits to patients.
The most important principle of any cancer surgery is to ensure that all cancer cells are removed. Failure to do this can lead to cancer recurrence. This is the ultimate test of accuracy. Even the microscopic loss of healthy tissues and damage to nearby important structures can cause serious functional consequences and have a huge impact on the quality of life.
The team will also focus on developing a flexible, fiber-based system that can target and remove cancer cells that are two orders of magnitude smaller than current technology can remove. Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust’s surgical consultant said: Surgical green laser pointer opens up exciting new methods for cancer surgery.
The precision of laser combined with imaging technology can accurately distinguish cancer and normal tissues, which will greatly improve the surgeon’s ability to completely remove cancer, while minimizing the side effects of surgery on patients. It is reported that in the next three years, the team will work on developing the system.