THz waves used to detect skin cancer
Scientists at The University of Warwick made a significant breakthrough with THz waves and their ability to detect skin cancer in patients.
According to Cancer ResearchLink opens in a new window, "Melanoma skin cancer is the 5th most common cancer in the UK, accounting for 5% of all new cancer cases (2017-2019)".
Operations to remove the cancerous cells have proven to be lengthy procedures, relying largely on the naked eye of the surgeon.
We caught up with Professor Emma MacPherson, from the University's Department of Physics to learn more about the breakthrough in her research and what this could mean for future procedures.
How would you describe your research in a sentence?
EP: I am developing a new technology - THz imaging - that can be used for early detection of skin cancer.
Why is it important to accurately detect skin cancer?
EP: Moh’s micrographic surgery (MMS) or 'margin controlled excision' is the gold standard for removing skin cancer, but this is time consuming as the removed tissue is checked under the microscope and if traces of cancer (or precancerous changes, invisible to the naked eye) are found, more tissue is removed.
It is important to remove all the cancerous cells to prevent recurrence/further spreading.
These steps are repeated until the tissue margins are clear and the process can take several hours.
If the full extent of the skin cancer could be determined before the procedure, the operation to remove it would be faster and the skin graft could be better planned.
What impact do you hope this breakthrough will have?
EP: I hope the advancements my team have made will pave the way for faster procedures, lower recurrence rates and shorter waiting times for patients.
It could potentially both speed things up and help preserve as much healthy skin as possible.
Has collaboration been an important aspect in your project?
EP: Yes – I collaborate with skin cancer surgeon, Dr Joseph Hardwicke, at University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire, who helps me to understand the issues from the clinical and patient perspectives. This has been pivotal to arranging the first measurements of patients.
I am also collaborating with colleagues at The University of Warwick, The University of Exeter and The University of Leeds, for their expertise in THz instrumentation, robotics and cancer diagnostics.
What is next for this project?
EP: Early trials on patients have been carried out and more are planned for the summer.
If successful, in five years time, a skin cancer patient might go for a THz scan, similarly to how a patient with a broken bone would get an x-ray.
Learn more about Professor Emma MacPherson's research.
Igniting real-world change through our research
Want to hear more about research at Warwick? Sign up to receive Illuminate, featuring the latest news on research at The University of Warwick, including exciting opportunities, events and insights into how our research is making an impact.