DOLPHIN-VIVO (in vivo phase)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
DOLPHIN-VIVO: Dignosis Of LymPHoma IN VIVO (in vivo phase)
IRAS ID
272392
Contact name
Alexander Dudgeon
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Exeter
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Lymph node tissue in the head and neck (a glad of the immune system, just under the skin that often swells when infected) which is due to be removed from patients undergoing a routine surgical biopsy for diagnosis of diseases will be investigated using a light-based technique called Raman spectroscopy using a "smart needle". The optical technique will be tested immediately before the tissue is removed (as part of their routine care). Raman spectroscopy looks at the "biochemical fingerprint" of tissue which has been shown to change as cancers develop.
We have already shown that it is possible to tell the difference between healthy and diseased tissue in the laboratory by looking at the light emitted by tissue when we shine a low power laser on to it. We intend to use Raman Spectroscopy to tell if lymph node tissue is cancerous or healthy. We have shown in the laboratory that this method will be at least as accurate as the conventional methods used now, but will provide the surgeon with instant results without the potential delay and cost of a laboratory analysis by pathologists, and potentially avoid the need for the surgery if we can measure the lymph node via inserting the smart needle through the skin under ultrasound guidance. The smart needle is a needle containing fibre-optics that can shine on, and collect light from the tissue at the tip.
The project will establish if a "smart" needle probe can safely obtain both a needle biopsy (cells) specimen and Raman spectroscopic data, in humans. This study will evaluate this device on lymph node tissue in patients during their surgery, to gather data for potential future studies. Raman data will be matched with routine pathology results using mathematical techniques. The cell biopsy samples will be compared with routine and histopathology results.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/YH/0187
Date of REC Opinion
13 Sep 2023
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion