IBM tests cancer diagnostic
pharmafile | October 24, 2013 | News story | Medical Communications, Research and Development, Sales and Marketing | Cancer, Zurich, ibm
IT giant IBM has teamed up with the University Hospital in Zurich to research a new oncology diagnostic test, in a partnership that will focus initially on lung cancer.
The device – called a microfluidic probe – looks like the nib of a fountain pen and has been created by IBM researchers using their experience of designing silicon computer chips.
Its aim is to accurately assess the heterogeneity of tumours, and therefore diagnose different types of cancer. The prototype will be installed at the Swiss hospital early next year.
The 8mm wide, diamond-shaped probe is housed in casing which IBM says is roughly the size of a tissue box – thus making it easy to handle – and has already been tested in-house for a year.
“Initial results are very encouraging,” said Dr Govind Kaigala, a scientist at IBM Research – Zurich. “We are now developing the technology in the context of important aspects in pathology.”
Currently, pathologists begin diagnosis of cancer by analysing a patient’s
biopsy tissue sample, staining it with liquid reagents – the intensity and distribution of the colour stain then determines the absence or presence of tumour cells which in turn provide pointers to treatment.
However, there can be significant variations within the tumour itself, and IBM believes the microfluidic probe will be able to delve deeper into those differences.
A silicon microfluidic head ending in a small tip bearing two microchannels, the probe injects small amounts of reagents on the tissue surface and then aspirates them to prevent spreading – which means they can be localised in a specific area of the tissue section ‘with pinpoint accuracy’, IBM insists.
“Pathologists are determined to obtain as much accurate information as possible from markedly small biopsy samples,” said Professor Dr Alex Soltermann, a pathologist specialising in lung cancer at the Institute for Surgical Pathology of the University Hospital Zurich.
He added that the new tool may deliver results which were previously thought unfeasible.
“If we are successful, the tool will be a driver for personalised medicine, and translate into increased confidence in diagnosis and better detection of predictive cancer markers,” he concluded.
The probes are designed and manufactured at the Binnig and Rohrer Nanotechnology Center on the campus of IBM Research – Zurich, and the collaboration is being funded by Swiss project SystemsX.ch.
Adam Hill
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