Subscribe to Newsletter
Subspecialties Oncology, Analytical science

Light Fantastic

Credit: RaPIDE Project

A new test for esophagus cancer diagnosis looks set to drastically reduce discovery time from a couple weeks to less than a minute.

Esophageal cancer, if caught early, is often treatable, potentially during the same diagnostic endoscopy. Rapid diagnosis, therefore, has the potential to revolutionize the field, which is what inspired Nick Stone and colleagues in their latest study, RaPIDE (Raman Probe for In vivo Diagnostics (during oesophageal) Endoscopy) (1).

Credit: RaPIDE Project

“Early on, we started treating patients with photodynamic therapy, which proved effective for those with early disease, but symptomatic patients were usually too far advanced to see a positive reaction,” says Stone, “Knowing that innovative technology could have a big impact in this area, we set out to develop a technique to improve the identification of early disease.”

The team faced a variety of challenges through the COVID-19 pandemic, including furlough and complications during regulatory approvals. However, with support from the University of Exeter, the University of Bristol, and Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, they proved triumphant in developing an endoscopic technique for early detection and diagnosis of esophageal cancer.

Credit: RaPIDE Project

The technique uses Raman spectroscopy to measure the “fingerprint” of biological molecules present in the sample ahead of advanced statistical methods that help clinicians identify whether the area is cancerous.

“Once proven, this technique would take away the need for tissue removal and could allow for treatment like RFA and EMR immediately – enabling real-time therapeutic targeting and monitoring of response,” Stone explains.

As the system is tested in clinical trials to determine its effectiveness in living patients, the team strive to seeking funding for a larger multicenter trial – hoping to develop the diagnostic model for multiple pathologies, “We’re planning to explore the utilization of this technique in a range of organs – using the current probe for hollow organs, and a smart Raman needle probe for solid organs.”

Receive content, products, events as well as relevant industry updates from The Pathologist and its sponsors.
Stay up to date with our other newsletters and sponsors information, tailored specifically to the fields you are interested in

When you click “Subscribe” we will email you a link, which you must click to verify the email address above and activate your subscription. If you do not receive this email, please contact us at [email protected].
If you wish to unsubscribe, you can update your preferences at any point.

  1. ClinicalTrials.gov (2024). Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03468634 
About the Author
Jessica Allerton

Deputy Editor, The Pathologist

Related Application Notes
Tumor Genomic Profiling with SureSelect Cancer Tumor-Specific Assays

| Contributed by Agilent

Comprehensive Genomic Profiling with SureSelect Cancer CGP Assay

| Contributed by Agilent

Preventing Bias in scRNAseq Performed on Solid Tumors

| Contributed by Revvity

Related Product Profile
Diagnostics Genetics and epigenetics
QIAseq® Pan Cancer Multimodal cuts user interventions by 50%

| Contributed by QIAGEN

Register to The Pathologist

Register to access our FREE online portfolio, request the magazine in print and manage your preferences.

You will benefit from:
  • Unlimited access to ALL articles
  • News, interviews & opinions from leading industry experts
  • Receive print (and PDF) copies of The Pathologist magazine

Register