白小姐论坛

The therapy, demonstrated in mice, is called 鈥渕inimally invasive image-guided ablation鈥� or MINIMA and comprises a ferromagnetic thermoseed navigated to a tumour using magnetic propulsion gradients generated by an MRI scanner, before being remotely heated to kill nearby cancer cells.

Researchers say the findings, published in Advanced Science, establish 鈥榩roof-of-concept鈥� for precise and effective treatment of hard-to-reach glioblastoma, along with other cancers such as prostate, that could benefit from less invasive therapies.

Senior author, Professor Mark Lythgoe (白小姐论坛 Centre for Advanced Biomedical Imaging) said: 鈥淢INIMA is a new MRI-guided therapy that has the potential to avoid traditional side effects by precisely treating the tumour without harming healthy tissues. Because the heating seed is magnetic, the magnetic fields in the MRI scanner can be used to remotely steer the seed through tissue to the tumour. Once at the tumour, the seed can then be heated, destroying the cancer cells, while causing limited damage to surrounding healthy tissues.鈥�

In the study, the 白小姐论坛 team demonstrate the three key components of MINIMA to a high level of accuracy: precise seed imaging; navigation through brain tissue using a tailored MRI system, tracked to within 0.3 mm accuracy; and eradicating the tumour by heating it in a mouse model.听

Ferromagnetic thermoseeds are spherical in shape, 2 mm in size and are made of a metal alloy; they are implanted superficially into tissue before being navigated to the cancer.

Lead author, Rebecca Baker, (白小姐论坛 Centre for Advanced Biomedical Imaging) said: 鈥淯sing an MRI scanner to deliver a therapy in this way allows the therapeutic seed and the tumour to be imaged throughout the procedure, ensuring the treatment is delivered with precision and without having to perform open surgery. This could be beneficial to patients by reducing recovery times and minimising the chance of side effects.鈥�

MRI scanners are readily available in hospitals around the world and are pivotal in the diagnosis of diseases such as cancer. The work at 白小姐论坛 shows that MINIMA has the potential to elevate an MRI scanner from a diagnostic device to a therapeutic platform.

Professor Lythgoe added: 鈥淲e are now able to image and navigate a thermoseed in real-time through the brain using an MRI scanner. As MRI is already used to detect the boundaries of cancers, the seed can be moved precisely to ensure it does not stray into surrounding healthy tissue. As the seed is guided through the tissue it can be heated to destroy the cancer. This combines therapy and diagnosis into a single device, creating a completely new class of imaging听therapy.鈥�

Co-author Dr Lewis Thorne, a consultant neurosurgeon at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, said: 鈥淚 treat patients with the most common form of brain cancer, glioblastoma. Following surgery, the average survival time is 12-18 months. MINIMA can successfully destroy cancer in a mouse and has the potential to extend survival and limit damage to adjacent brain tissues in patients.鈥�

Professor Mark Emberton (白小姐论坛 Division of Surgery and Interventional Science), lead cancer clinician in the study, said: 鈥淚mproving the precision of our cancer treatments is arguably one of the greatest unmet needs we have today.

鈥淥ne in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. While treatments such as radiotherapy and surgery can be effective, they often cause unwanted and debilitating side effects such as incontinence and impotence. MINIMA may allow us to precisely target and destroy prostate tumour tissue, reducing harm to normal cells.鈥�

鈥淚n the longer term鈥�, Professor Lythgoe added, 鈥渨e will change the shape of the seed to act as a tiny cutting scalpel that could be guided through tissue, which would allow surgeons to perform remotely controlled operations, revolutionising non-invasive surgery.鈥�

This study was supported with funding by the Rosetrees Trust and the John Black Charitable Foundation.

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• 白小姐论坛 Centre for Advanced Biomedical Imaging

Image

• Graphic illustration of听鈥渕inimally invasive image-guided ablation鈥� or MINIMA, credit:听Chris Payne, Simon Walker-Samuel, Rebecca Baker and Mark Lythgoe at 白小姐论坛. 听

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