New probe detects breast cancer spread

[nanoorg]

British and U.S. medical scientists have created a device that can locate magnetic nanoparticles in lymph nodes to detect the spread of breast cancer.

Physics professors Quentin Pankhurst of University College London and Audrius Brazdeikis of the University of Houston developed a novel detection procedure combining nanotechnology and advanced magnetic sensing based on high-temperature superconductors. They said their innovation will enable surgeons to more effectively locate the sentinel lymph node - the first lymph node into which a tumour's metastasizing cancer cells will drain.

The researchers developed an ultra-sensitive magnetic probe to detect minuscule magnetic fields in the body. The probe is a supersensitive magnetometer - an instrument used to track the presence of clinically introduced magnetic nanoparticles. During breast cancer surgery, a surgeon will inject a magnetic nanoparticle dye into the tumour or into tissues surrounding the tumour.

The procedure will initially be the focus of a clinical trial at University College Hospital in London.

"We expect to start new clinical trials in Japan and Europe before the end of 2007," Brazdeikis said. "Our technology will be extensively validated by different surgeons in various countries."




Sources: UPI & Science Daily

http://www.sciencedaily.com/



Story posted: 8th March 2007.