Photosonx is developing "Nano" scale early diagnosis of cancer at the cellular level.
Historically, the "Pap" smear has been of enormous benefit in the early diagnosis of cervical cancer. "Smear" samples obtained with a cotton tipped applicator from the cervical area are placed on a microscope slide and sent for expert examination by "cytopathology" technicians or pathologists to determine if any cells show abnormalities or signs of cancer. This process typically takes several weeks to process in separate lab facilities. Photosonx is developing additional capabilities and advanced technologies to expand the 'early cancer screening test' concept to many other problematic areas of cancer.
Early Cancer Detection Dynamics
Types of cancer that are especially suitable for this early detection and treatment via internal examination with an endoscope are: Oral (Head and Neck), esophageal, gastric, lung, bladder and cervical; but skin and breast cancer also have been both diagnosed and successfully treated with this combination approach. Together these types represent more than half of all cancers.
In the illustration below, the eventual progression for cancer often follows a course from carcinoma in situ (CIS) to frank invasive cancer but unfortunately present detection methods for CIS (the stage where a much greater chance of cure is possible) are mostly unreliable. With Fluorescence Diagnostic technology the possibility of early detection and treatment of CIS and early-stage cancer can become a reality.
Bladder Cancer is a typical example of this process; following the progression in many cases from dysplasia to CIS (cancer in situ) and eventually to frank invasive carcinoma. fluoroescent diagnosis detects malignant lesions in the bladder with a sensitivity of 98% and CIS in 100%, respectively. After the administration of a photosensitizer, light illumination causes the bladder tumor to emit red fluorescence. Suspicious lesions can be detected by their red fluorescence and are electroresected or treated with laser energy. Complete resection or destruction of all tumors in the bladder is crucial to prevent recurrent and invasive growth of transitional cell carcinom
Because early detection of pre-malignant or early stage cancer is possible with this technology, survival rates are significantly improved and cure of the cancer is even possible.. Small and flat mucosal neoplasm, like dysplasia and carcinoma in situ, are difficult to identify by white light endoscopy, and are frequently overlooked in routine examinations. Fortunately, Fluorescence Diagnosis (FD) offers an improved and much more effective method of diagnosing (and treating) these early cancers before they advance to the stages with poor cure rates.
Similarly, lung cancer is often not diagnosed until the later stages where life expectancy is short and the chance for cure is either slim to none. Lung cancer accounts for nearly 30% of all cancer deaths in the developed countries. In China, 2,000,000 new cases of Lung Cancer are reported yearly. In advanced (metastatic) stages of this disease there is a lack of effective treatment and prognosis is poor, with less than 15% survival 5 years after diagnosis.
Scientific research is progressing into the development of a screening tool based upon FD for early stage lung cancer. An accurate, safe and affordable method of screening and identifying early stage lung cancer would dramatically improve patient results. Fluorescence diagnosis represents a major improvement in the localization, identification and treatment of cancerous lesions of the oral cavity, larynx and lung.