MIT Scientists Developed Cancer Tracking Device To Monitor Cancer Growth After Biopsy
In Washington, a group of scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has developed a useful implantable device that will help track cancer growth and its respond to treatment after biopsy.
Professor Michael Cima, the device development group leader said that the device was found successful in tracking tumor marker in mice, when they transplanted human tumors into the mice’s body during the experiment. The group thinks that one day, this particular implant device will provide and up to the minute update of the tumor’s activity such as responding to treatment and whether the tumor has spread to other parts of the body.
Professor Cima added that this implantable device can be implanted during biopsy. The device can also be modified in order to monitor chemotherapy agents and help doctors in determining if the cancer drugs have reached the tumors. He also pointed out that the device can be tailored to measure PH or oxygen levels and eventually reveals tumor metabolism and the way it responds to the treatment.
Professor Cima stresses that with the current tools used in detecting tumor action, it is already too late to prevent the spread of cancer by the time you receive the test results and said that the implantable device is the perfect tool to turn death causing cancer disease into a manageable one.
The said implantable device is a 5mm cylindrical implant containing magnetic nanoparticles and is coated with antibodies specialized to keep the target molecules that bind to the particles clump together. MRI or magnetic resonance imaging is then used to detect the clump.
Professor Michael Cima believes that the implant device to test PH level will be soon commercially available.