British scientists are developing a probe to detect cancers early and distinguish between different forms of the disease.
Dr Ryan Stables said: “This could change the way we approach cancer diagnosis so it is faster, potentially saving thousands of lives. This method of identifying cancerous cells is similar to that of using a metal detector. It allows you to recognise the characteristics of cancer in real-time, which we hope could have life-changing implications.”
The non-invasive system, still in its early stages of development, detects malignant cells by the way in which laser light disperses from them.
The joint team from Birmingham City University and the University of Central Lancashire hopes a probe could be in widespread use in surgeries within five years. It is intended for use on the skin and internally and for testing blood samples taken by the GP.
It would cut the agonising and potentially life-threatening wait for patients to see a specialist and get a confirmed diagnosis, as well as improve government waiting-time targets.
Lead researcher Dr Stables, an audio-processing expert at Birmingham City, said: “We are hopeful the research could be used for treating other physical diseases, not just cancer.”
He explained that the technique could also allow for safer cancer surgery. “Using the probe would help a surgeon ensure they haven’t left any cancerous cells behind, meaning treatment is more likely to be successful.
“Listening to data in a patient’s body via the probe, a surgeon is more likely to spot remaining cancerous cells than by visual inspection alone.”
During the process, light from the probe will be directed to the site of the suspected cancer.
Tissue cells interact with the beam, emitting a signature spectrum. The light scatters differently if the cells are cancerous or non-cancerous. The patterns are read by a synthesizer which converts the signal into sound, relayed via headphones to a doctor or surgeon.
Dr Stables and his team are now working on how to identify the unique light patterns thrown off from various forms of cancer.
The universities worked in collaboration with GEANT, the pan-European research and education network.
Its product manager Domenico Vicinanza said: “This study is a great opportunity to assist a potentially life-enhancing project addressing one of society’s biggest challenges.”
Dr Anthea Martin, science information manager at Cancer Research UK, said: “Diagnosing cancer earlier is key to improving the chances of survival.” However, she pointed out that the “appealing” development was still in its early stages. The research was revealed at the 20th International Conference on Auditory Displays in New York. Meanwhile, new figures show waiting lists for cancer screening have more than doubled in a year and are at a six-year high.
Crucial procedures such as colonoscopy, for bowel and stomach cancers, and MRI and CT scans used to detect tumours, should be undertaken within six weeks of a GP referral.
Yet the latest figures show that in May alone 18,664 patients had to wait longer, more than double the figure for the same period last year. It is five times higher than the number forced to wait longer than six weeks in 2010.
The delays are partly blamed on rising numbers of patients and the ageing population.
Barbara Jacoby is an award winning blogger that has contributed her writings to multiple online publications that have touched readers worldwide.