Objective
Foreseen Results
The prototype device COLSPEX to be used in this project, will be designed to utilize a wide range of spectroscopic signatures in order to maximize the probability of extracting visual information and to provide useful guidance to the gynecologist. The crucial point will be in its ability to correlate tissue spectroscopy with inflammation, cancer precursors (HPV infection), and cancer. Preliminary measurements with the imaging spectroscopy setup at LMTB, have demonstrated compatibility and non-interference with operating microscope which is similar to a colposcope. A clinically affordable device must be simpler and less expensive. It is expected that criteria for such an instrument will emerge from the INCO-COPERNICUS project. If development of COLSPEX is successful, it will permit cost reduction by reducing the number of patients requiring evaluation on a repeated basis, and facilitate immediate treatment.
Survey of the World Health Organization demonstrated cervical cancer is the only cancer of women which does not show a clear geographical gradient of risk. The main cause of cancer of the cervix is infection of the cervix with human papilloma virus (HPV) particularly types 16 and 18. As many as 30% of sexually active women is estimated to have human papilloma virus HPV infection. The recent epidemiological studies clearly implicated HPV viruses are the possible etiologic agents in cervical neoplasm. In the European Community 25,000 new cervix cancer case registered every year, and the estimated deaths are around 13,000 per year.
Laser-und Medizin-Technologie gGmbH, Berlin (LMTB), 2nd Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2nd Department of Pathology, Semmelweis University of Medicine (SOTE) Budapest, University Medical School of Debrecen, Department of Biophysics (DOTE), Saratov Chernyshevsky State University, Department of Optics (SCSU) and Foundation for Research and Technology-HELLAS (FO.RT.H.) Institute of Electronic Structure & Laser (IESL) will form a consortium COLPIS. COLPIS will undertake a development and evaluation of a non-contacting, spectrophotometric instrument for discrimination between cervical cancer, cancer precursors (HPV infection), and normal tissue. Members of the Consortium initial experience makes possible, that this two years term project will lay the basis for full technical development and preclinical trial for colposcopic imaging spectrometer (COLSPEX).
In summary, to reduce its error rate, colposcope needs an adjunct, which improves its specificity. The instrument is an attachment that combines natural fluorescence and absorption spectrophotometry. This approach should lead to much more precise evaluation in situ cervix carcinoma relate to human papilloma virus infection. Initial testing on patients, will be directed to improve the colposcopic selection of biopsy sites.
Fields of science
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologyvirology
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicineobstetrics
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncologycervical cancer
- medical and health scienceshealth sciencesinfectious diseasesDNA viruses
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicinegynaecology
Topic(s)
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
12207 Berlin
Germany