Development of advanced imaging agents to detect pancreatic cancer tissues during surgery

The project

Complete tumour removal during surgery for pancreatic cancer fails due to the inability of surgeons to see or feel small volume disease at the margins of tumour resection. This often results in a very poor outcome and patients are usually transferred to additional treatment such as chemotherapy.

Dr Elnaz Yaghini and Professor Brian Davidson at University College London and Professor Mark Green at King’s College London would like to develop a technique that enables surgeons to detect pancreatic cancer lesions in real-time during surgery. This involves using a method called image-guided surgery (IGS) during operation, which relies on using special imaging systems with imaging agents that are designed for the specific type of pancreatic cancer. This technique will enable the surgeons to detect malignant pancreatic tissues during operation which are not clearly visible to the naked eye. Successful outcome of this proposed technology could potentially reduce the likelihood of cancer recurrence and the need for additional treatment. Patients will benefit from more precise and effective treatment interventions, leading to better disease management, improved quality of life and potentially prolonged survival.

Next steps

No scientific background or prior experience is needed to take part in this opportunity.

If you would like to give your feedback on this project, please contact the Research Team (research@pancreaticcancer.org.uk) quoting the involvement reference ‘ITG Yaghini’. We will then email you the lay summary and any specific questions Dr Elnaz Yaghini, Professor Brian Davidson and Professor Mark Green would like you to consider. Please return your responses to the research team by Friday 7th June 2024 at 1pm.