Cancer Institute Testing IR-Based Monitoring Technique

BOSTON, April 21 -- Researchers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute are testing a cancer detection technique that employs an infrared imaging sensor developed at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). The sensor is part of a device called the BioScan System, which was developed by OmniCorder Technologies Inc. of Stony Brook, NY. OmniCorder received US Food and Drug Administration clearance to market the device in December, 1999; the company is exclusively licensed by JPL to use the sensor technology, called Quantum Well Infrared Photodetector, and also holds licenses from other organizations.
Researchers said the application being tested at Dana-Farber differs from those that have been tested at other sites. The BioScan System has been employed in locating and confirming the presence of a cancerous breast lesion by detecting the cancer's ability to recruit new blood supply. According to scientists, the Dana-Farber research is aimed at evaluating the device's ability to monitor biological effects of cancer treatment and to help physicians detect treatment-induced changes in cancerous lesions of the breast, skin and other organs. Researchers plan to use this information to better determine effectiveness of the treatments.