clinical study of BioLuminate probe to detect breast cancer begins
early breast cancer detection tool based on NASA technology is being
tested in women with suspicious breast lesions at UC Davis Cancer
Center to see if it can spare women with benign tumors from having
to undergo a biopsy.
invasive device, called the BioLuminate probe, takes real-time,
detailed measurements of breast tissue using a fine needle with
an "intelligent" tip. As soon as the needle is inserted
into the breast, multiple sensors at the tip gather data on the
optical and electrical properties of the breast tissue. Because
benign and cancerous tissues scatter light and conduct electrical
current differently, and have other detectable differences in their
physical properties, this information can be used to immediately
assess malignancy in suspicious breast lesions.
this instrument will allow physicians to immediately diagnose cancerous
tumors without surgery," said Lydia Howell, professor of pathology
at UC Davis School of Medicine and Medical Center and principle
investigator of the study. "Every week in the United States
some 18,000 surgical breast biopsies are performed on women with
suspicious breast lesions that later are determined to be benign.
If we can reduce the number of biopsies that result in negative
findings, we can significantly improve women's health."
Inc., a Dublin, California-based start-up company licensed to develop
and market the probe, is working with UC Davis physicians to conduct
the studies. One hundred women who are scheduled for a surgical
biopsy at UC Davis are being invited to participate in the pilot
study. The initial data collected from the probe will be used to
optimize the sensors and instrumentation to distinguish benign from
malignant tissue. With the information gained from the pilot study,
BioLuminate will develop the first commercial prototype, which will
be tested in a larger clinical trial.
to Lydia Howell, other UC Davis physicians participating in this
study include James Goodnight, Philip Schneider, Richard Bold and
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BioLuminate probe uses multiple sensors to gather data on the optical
and electrical properties of breast tissue..