Advanced Light-Based Sensing for Accurate Cancer Detection

Project summary

Detecting cancer that has spread to lymph nodes is crucial for determining the right treatment. However, current methods rely on radioactive tracers, which pose logistical and safety challenges. Our project brings together experts from Erasmus MC and Single Quantum to develop a safer, more precise optical sensing technology that can detect hidden cancer spread in real time—without radiation. Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death, with over 49,000 people dying from it annually in the Netherlands. Identifying cancer that has spread to lymph nodes is critical for patient survival, but conventional techniques fail to detect small metastases in up to 35% of cases. This can lead to unnecessary treatments or missed cancer spread, negatively impacting patients and increasing healthcare costs. A non-radioactive and more accurate alternative is urgently needed to improve cancer care and reduce the burden on healthcare systems. Our innovative approach combines light-based fluorescence lifetime sensing with reflectance spectroscopy to identify cancerous lymph nodes during surgery. By analyzing how light interacts with tissue, our device can detect subtle differences between healthy and cancerous lymph nodes. This allows surgeons to make faster and more accurate decisions, leading to better treatment outcomes, fewer unnecessary surgeries, and a reduced reliance on harmful radioactive tracers. By the end of the project, we aim to develop a fully functional, optical sensing device. This breakthrough technology has the potential to revolutionize cancer diagnosis and treatment by offering a safer, faster, and more effective way to detect cancer spread. Our collaboration between academic researchers and industry partners ensures that this innovation can be rapidly translated into clinical practice, benefiting both patients and healthcare providers.