New Center Dedicated to Cancer Molecular Imaging

A new center will work to improve traditional cancer-detection methods by identifying cancer-specific genes that are ideally suited for molecular imaging and diagnosis.

Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine (Cleveland, OH, USA) and the U.S. National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR, Bethesda, MD, USA) have announced the establishment of the new NFCR Center for Molecular Imaging. This center, funded by a five-year grant from the NFCR, will be led by James P. Basilion, Ph.D., associate professor of radiology and biomedical engineering at Case Schools of Medicine and Engineering. It will focus on assisting cancer scientists to identify specific genes that are ideally suited for molecular imaging and improved diagnosis that will lead to earlier-stage treatments for cancer patients.

Research has consistently shown that the earlier a physician can diagnose a tumor, the greater the chance of effectively treating the patient against cancer and increasing the chance of survival. "Molecular imaging is being recognized as the next revolution in cancer research and is paving the way for patient-specific imaging evaluation based on molecular and genetic markers” said Dr. Basilion.

Current traditional cancer-detection methods such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound are not effective for detecting small, newly formed tumors in patients. At the new center, scientists will develop methods that will more accurately predict how a patient will respond to certain chemotherapy drugs based on the diagnosis. These methods check the production level of a group of cancer-related genes inside the patient's body and help doctors to determine more accurately what therapy should be given.



Related Links:
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
National Foundation for Cancer Research