A new potential method for diagnosing and treating patients with bowel cancer has been discovered by researchers from the Cancer Research UK (CRUK) Scotland Institute and the University of Glasgow. The study, funded by CRUK and published in Clinical Cancer Research, has shown that positron emission tomography (PET) imaging could provide a new approach to studying tumors inside the body without the need for removal.
Bowel cancer is currently the fourth most common cancer in the UK, affecting approximately 268,000 individuals. It occurs when abnormal cells grow and divide uncontrollably in the large bowel. Traditionally, biopsies are used to diagnose bowel cancer, but this invasive procedure carries risks such as potential infection and incomplete information about the tumor within the bowel.
Using existing genetic data on bowel cancer, researchers were able to identify different characteristics of tumors through PET imaging. PET scans produce detailed three-dimensional images of the inside of the body using tracers, offering a clear view of the specific area being studied and how well body functions are working. In mouse models, researchers found that multiple tracer PET scans could differentiate between various forms of bowel cancer based on their genetic makeup. As different patients have unique mutations in cancer-related genes, PET imaging could potentially match the tumor type to the patient’s specific genetic profile, guiding personalized treatment decisions.
This precision medicine approach could revolutionize cancer diagnosis and treatment, according to Dr. David Lewis from CRUK Scotland Institute and the University of Glasgow. He believes that PET imaging has the potential to survey the entire cancer landscape, providing detailed information on tumors while they are still developing. This technology could not only aid in determining the best treatment for patients but also in monitoring the progression of the cancer and response to treatment.
The study was funded by CRUK and is published in Clinical Cancer Research.
In summary:
Researchers from CRUK Scotland Institute and University of Glasgow have discovered a new potential method for diagnosing and treating patients with bowel cancer using positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. This non-invasive procedure produces detailed three-dimensional images inside
