NEW WAY TO DETECT EARLY BREAST CANCER

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NEW WAY TO DETECT EARLY BREAST CANCER
05 April 2007 - University of Bristol

A safer way to test for early-stage breast cancer has secured new funding to further develop the technique. The new technique will enable women to be tested regularly without the fear of over-exposure to radiation, a problem with existing X-ray tests.

The new technology, which utilises an innovative radar system developed from land mine detection, has been developed by Micrima, a University of Bristol spin-out company. Human trials of the new test will start soon.

“Compared to current methods, Micrima’s new screening technology can potentially detect breast cancer at a very early stage. It creates a better image, even through very dense tissue,” commented chief executive, Roy Johnson. “The half-million pound funding from business ‘angels’ NESTA and the SULIS seedcorn fund is a major step towards making this new screening programme available to all women.”

Alan Preece, Professor of Medical Physics at the University of Bristol and one of the lead scientists on this project, said: “Breast cancer is one of the biggest killers that women currently face. Each year there are over 41,000 new cases in the UK alone. We are very excited about this new technology and are pleased that our research findings at the University of Bristol may benefit so many women.”

This latest technology has the potential to image through dense breast tissue and will therefore reach a far wider section of women than X-ray mammography. For some women, traditional mammography can be uncomfortable, creating a disincentive to go for regular screenings.

Micrima’s screening technology does not require breast compression, making the whole process more comfortable. Breast compression for testing can also create an artificially denser tissue, making detection of small tumours more challenging.

Women under 50 in particular stand to benefit from the new test, since X-rays are less reliable at detecting cancer in this age group. Breast cancer is the largest killer of women between the ages of 35-55 in Europe.

http://www.bris.ac.uk

About: University of Bristol
The University College of Bristol opened in 1876, after six years of discussions and controversy, in a bid to bring university culture to the provinces. It was the first college in the country to admit men and women on an equal footing.

The University’s Research and Enterprise Development (RED) division was launched in 2000 to stimulate and support an entrepreneurial culture and encourage the growth of technology-based business.

2003 saw the completion of the Dorothy Hodgkin building, named after the University’s fifth Chancellor. The £18 million building is dedicated to research in neuroendocrinology. 2003 also saw the opening of the University’s £5 million Centre for Sport, Exercise and Health.

Work on a new, state-of-the-art engineering building is due to be completed in early 2004. The £20 million BLADE project (Bristol Laboratory for Advanced Dynamics Engineering) will bring together the Engineering Faculty’s six departments to establish Europe’s most advanced dynamics engineering research facilities.

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