‘Pioneering’ technology to be used on UK brain tumour patients in world-first

A new “pioneer” scanner developed by scientists in Scotland could considerably improve the treatment of glioblastoma patients, the most common and aggressive brain tumor type.

More than 3,000 new patients receive a diagnosis of glioblastoma in the United Kingdom each year, and half of all patients die within 15 months of diagnosis, even after in-depth surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Scientists at the University of Aberdeen and NHS Grampian has obtained £ 350,000 of Scottish government to use cycling imaging in the field (FCI), a new technology derived from MRI, to follow brain cancer by generating images without sight.

The FCI is a new specialized type of low -field MRI scan launched by Aberdeen and has already proven to be effective in detecting branch tumors and brain lesions in stroke patients.

We hope it can now be used to help brain tumor Patients.

MRI scanners were invented at the University of Aberdeen 50 years ago, but the new FCI scanner is the only one in its type used on patients around the world.

The FCI derives from MRI but can operate at low and ultra -basic magnetic fields, which means that it is capable of seeing how the organs are affected by diseases in a way that is possible, and can vary the force of the magnetic field during the patient scan – acting as several scanners and extract more information on the tissues.

The new technology can detect tumors without having to inject a dye into the body, which can be associated with renal lesions and allergic reactions in certain patients.

The team of doctors and scientists involved will scan patients with glioblastoma undergoing chemotherapy after surgery and chemoradiotherapy.

It is to be hoped that research will establish that, unlike conventional MRI scans, the FCI can differentiate between tumor growth and progression, and “pseudo -rogression” which resembles a tumor but is not cancer tissue, which could improve care and quality of life.

Professor Anne Kiltie, president of the friends of the anchoring in clinical oncology of the University of Aberdeen, who directs the study, said: “We already have evidence that the FCI is effective in detecting tumors in breast tissues and brain lesions in patients after a stroke.

“The application of this new fascinating technology to glioblastoma patients could give us a much more precise and detailed image of what is happening in their brain.

“If we can detect real tumor progression early, we can exchange the patient to a potentially more beneficial type of chemotherapy.

“In addition, being able to verify that a patient has a pseudo-progression will prevent effective chemotherapy too early, because it was thought that the tumor has progressed, thus aggravating the prognosis.

“The provision of certainty will also reduce anxiety to patients and parents and will improve the quality of life of patients.

“Above all, having a reliable method to identify progressive diseases will allow development and a more precise evaluation of emerging potential treatments. This is particularly important because patients currently have a limited choice of treatments to combat their cancer.

“In the end, this study and related future work will improve the quality, efficiency and profitability of health care in the treatment of glioblastoma patients across Scotland and beyond.”

Sarah-Jane Hogg, CEO at Friends of Anchor, said it was a “truly promising development and another example of pioneering work from the University of Aberdeen”.

“The role of Professor Kiltie at the University is entirely funded by the friends of anchor by our great dream call, and our thanks go to our donors and fundraising for the role they played to support this work.”

A spokesperson for the brain tumor’s charitable body said: “This pioneering technology is a promising step for people who have been diagnosed with the most aggressive brain tumor type.

“This is a new positive unlike the accounts that we often hear about the delays in the diagnosis, the limited processing options and the fight to obtain vital innovations in the first line of the NHS.

“We congratulate ourselves, and the charity of brain tumors will continue to work with clinicians and political decision -makers in Scotland – and the rest of the United Kingdom – to help bring patients to patients faster.”