Category: Cancer

  • Ultrasound penetrates blood-brain barrier to treat brain tumor

    Ultrasound penetrates blood-brain barrier to treat brain tumor

    Todd Mainprize at Sunnybrook Hospital has, for the first time,  delivered chemotherapy directly to a brain tumor, by breaking through the blood-brain barrier using tightly focused ultrasound. The patient’s bloodstream was  infused with a chemotherapy drug, as well as microscopic bubbles, which are smaller than red blood cells and can pass freely through blood. MRI-guided, low intensity sound…

  • Remotely controlled capsule endoscope captures lower GI images

    Remotely controlled capsule endoscope captures lower GI images

    A new type of capsule endoscope may improve cancer diagnostics, providing comprehensive, non-invasive imaging, including lower GI images. The 3D printed Tadpole Endoscope (TE) has a soft tail that allows it to be  remotely guided around the stomach.  The technology was developed by Yong ZHONG, Ruxu DU and Prof Phillip W Y CHIU of the Chinese University of…

  • Cancer patient receives 3D printed rib cage

    Cancer patient receives 3D printed rib cage

    For the first time, a chest wall sarcoma patient has received a  fully customized 3d printed sternum and rib cage portion, created using high resolution CT data. This part of the chest is difficult to recreate with traditional prosthetics.  Thoracic surgeons typically use flat and plate implants for the chest, which can loosen over time and…

  • Biochemical sensor helps refine cancer treatment

    Biochemical sensor helps refine cancer treatment

    MIT professor Michael Cima is developing a tiny biochemical sensor that can be implanted in cancerous tissue during a biopsy.  It wirelessly sends  biomarker data to an external device,  allowing doctors to monitor progress, and adjust dosages or switch therapies accordingly. The sensor fits into the tip of a biopsy needle. It contains 10 microliters…

  • Sensor chip for prostate cancer diagnosis

    Sensor chip for prostate cancer diagnosis

    University of Birmingham researchers are developing a sensor chip that they believe can improve the accuracy of prostate cancer diagnosis. Prostate cancer is normally diagnosed by tests that rely on antibodies, making them vulnerable to degeneration by environmental changes. They are known to give false positive readings at a high rate. The sensor chip works…

  • Remote controlled nanowire drug delivery

    Remote controlled nanowire drug delivery

    Purdue researchers have created an implantable drug-delivery system using nanowires that can be controlled wirelessly. The nanowires respond to an electromagnetic field generated by a device used to control the release of a preloaded drug. Tubes and wires required by other implantable devices are eliminated, minimizing the risk of infection and  complications. According to lead…

  • Chip detects cancer from a drop of blood

    Chip detects cancer from a drop of blood

    Showa University and My Tech have developed Proteo, a silver nanoscale chip that  they claim detects most types of cancer from a drop of blood in three minutes.   It functions by attracting a faintly luminous substance found in cancer patients, beginning at a very early stage. They have only studied 20 patients, but diagnosed whether a…

  • Wearable tracks breast cancer side effects, sleep, mood, activity

    Wearable tracks breast cancer side effects, sleep, mood, activity

    A pilot study exploring  the use of wearables in breast cancer is underway.  Polaris Health Directions and  the MD Anderson Cancer Center are using the Apple Watch to  track multiple factors, increase engagement, and provide immediate feedback and interventions. Side effects, sleep, activity levels and mood will be monitored, and combined with electronic health records…

  • Human cell sensor detects chemical changes early

    Human cell sensor detects chemical changes early

    University of Rochester‘s Spencer Rosero is developing a human cell sensor that, when implanted,  detects subtle biological changes to provide advanced warning of health issues. The cells are engineered to detect specific chemical changes. When a variation is discovered, the cells respond, and a fluorescent light glows. The sensor’s camera  enables patients and doctors to…

  • Implant tests cancer drugs to optimize treatment

    Implant tests cancer drugs to optimize treatment

    MIT’s Oliver Jonas, Robert Langer, and colleagues have developed an implantable device that allows doctors to test cancer drugs in patients before prescribing chemotherapy. The tiny device can carry small doses of 30 drugs. After implanting it in a tumor and allowing the drugs to diffuse into the tissue, researchers can measure how effectively each destroys a…

  • Nanoparticle treatment targets brain tumors

    Nanoparticle treatment targets brain tumors

    Tel Aviv University Professor Dan Peer is developing a nanoparticle-based process to target glioblastoma cells, previously considered untreatable. Nanoparticles were injected into tumors, acting as the drug delivery system. Nucleic acid, with interference RNAs, attached to receptors  expressed specifically on glioma cells, and stopped the activity of a key protein that regulates the rapid reproduction of…

  • Breath test for head and neck cancer

    Breath test for head and neck cancer

    EPFL researchers have developed a sensor that can identify the presence of a head and neck cancer through breath analysis. Nico de Rooij‘s micro-sensors  detect volatile organic compounds which vary in  presence and concentration depending on one’s health. The sensor includes a silicon disk covered by a polymer and suspended by four tiny “bridges” with integrated…