Biophotonic Technology for Cervical Cancer Detection

A study has shown that a new light-based system that reads fluorescent signals from cervical tissue can detect significant high-grade cervical disease missed by expert colposcopy. The study was presented at the annual International Conference in Cervical Cancer in Houston (TX, USA) sponsored by the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and the US National Cancer Institute.

The multicenter study involved 222 patients with a previous abnormal Pap test. When used together with high magnification colposcopy, the new system detected 95% of high-grade cervical disease, compared to 82.5% for colposcopy alone. The new system, called Cerviscan, also showed a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 80%. In comparison, recent studies of colposcopy have shown a 72% sensitivity and a 69% specificity.

Cerviscan is a small instrument that, in addition to reading fluorescent signals from cervical tissue, uses proprietary software to provide doctors with an objective map of diseased areas of the cervix and preferred locations for biopsy. Testing is easily performed at the point of care and does not require invasive sampling or laboratory analysis. Results are available within minutes. The device is the product of LifeSpex, Inc. (Bothell, WA, USA; www.lifespex.com) and is based on the company's evoked tissue fluorescence (ETF) technology.

"This system can provide an immediate answer for both the patient and the physician,” said Dr. Alex Ferenczy, professor of pathology and obstetrics & gynecology at McGill University (Montreal, Canada). "This rapid, accurate response could allow the physician to treat the patient during the same visit.”




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