A new imaging technology is poised to revolutionise prostatectomy.
This technology, known as Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging (FLIM), enables surgeons to preserve prostate function after surgery, reduce recovery time, and minimise the need for unnecessary radiation.
It allows them to differentiate the tumour and its margins from healthy tissues, resulting in less invasive cancer surgeries, easier recovery and fewer side effects for patients.
Laura Marcu (pictured) is the director of The National Centre for Interventional Biophotonic Technologies and has led the development of FLIm technology at UC Davis. She is a professor of neurological surgery and biomedical engineering, overseeing a pioneering laboratory that advances label-free imaging technologies.
One application of these technologies is in detecting tumours, especially during surgeries.
FLIm has already been tested and validated in brain cancer and in head and neck cancer surgeries. Now, researchers led by UC Davis urologic surgeon Marc Dall’Era are testing its power during prostate surgeries.
Prostate removal may lead to side effects, such as urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction. Minimising these effects depends on preserving the very small nerves and blood vessels that travel around the prostate.
Dall’Era, professor and chair of the Department of Urologic Surgery, said: ‘All cancers are unique, but prostate cancer is especially unique. When we’re operating, our goal is to remove bad tissues while preserving as much of those nerves and blood vessels as possible to maintain function and enhance recovery.’
In most cases, surgeons can't see the margins of a tumour with the naked eye. These margins are microscopic and found on the edge or within the prostate. Real-time assessment of the margins can help guide the surgery to preserve sexual and urinary function.
At UC Davis Health, surgeons perform prostatectomies using the da Vinci system. Adding FLIm to this technology would allow surgeons to use an endoscope to capture a live video feed and generate mixed-reality images. These images would show tissue differences, which help surgeons detect the tumour margins.
Preserving healthy tissues can maximise functional recovery, preventing the loss of urinary or erectile function. It can also help reduce unneeded post-surgery radiation treatment, Dall’Era explained.
For this clinical trial, all participants will have surgeries powered by the FLIm technology. For now, the trial is set to enrol 20 participants.
