Mar 16, 2011 |
Injectable tracer for diagnosing and operating on tumors
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(Nanowerk News) CEA-Leti announced today that it and four French partners are developing an injectable tracer that can provide both nuclear imaging in the pre-operative evaluation of tumors and optical imaging during ablation or biopsy.
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The three-year Nano-ENO project is developing a specific tracer using a patented organic nano-carrier (Lipidot®). To improve its targeting capacities, a peptide molecule that recognizes certain types of cancer will also be grafted to the Lipidots.
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In addition to CEA-Leti, the Nano-ENO project partners are:
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A team from the Frédéric Joliot Hospital in Orsay
AAA, based in Saint-Genis-Pouilly, and specializing in radiopharmaceutical products
Fluoptics, a CEA-Leti startup based in Grenoble and specializing in fluorescence-imaging systems, and
VetAgro Sup, based in Marcy-l'Etoile, will oversee the pre-clinical studies on large- animal model (spontaneous tumors in dogs)
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When treating cancer, medical professionals often look to several diagnostic tools and surgical aids, including positron emission tomography (PET) scan and fluorescence imaging. A PET scan is a nuclear-imaging procedure that allows doctors to measure the metabolic activity of an organ by injecting a radiotracer and then analyzing the gamma rays that are emitted as the tracer disintegrates.
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Fluorescence imaging is a relatively new technology that combines the use of a florescent tracer with near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). The resulting real-time images help surgeons obtain cleaner margins during surgery and therefore reduce the risk of recurrence.
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The nuclear markers used in a PET scan help provide high-resolution images, while optical contrast agents facilitate the identification of tumor cells in real-time. Combining these imaging technologies makes it possible to confirm that the tumors being operated on correspond to the tumors identified in the pre-operative studies. It also allows for a more thorough procedure to be performed with reduced overall surgical time; not only can the surgeon work more quickly and with greater precision, but the entire operation is streamlined, allowing for a more efficient use of operating rooms and surgical staff.
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This project will receive support from the Cancéropôle Lyon Auvergne Rhône Alpes (CLARA) "Preuve de Concept" (Proof of Concept) initiative for three years.
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