Technology developed for more precise cancer operations

Cancer operations could become safer in future thanks to a new technology from Jena: An interdisciplinary research team has developed a new type of endoscope that can precisely detect and selectively remove tumour tissue - in real time during the operation. The combination of state-of-the-art laser and imaging techniques with artificial intelligence opens up new possibilities for reducing the burden on patients. The results of the research work were published in the journal "Science Advances" in December 2024.

The complete removal of a tumour without damaging healthy tissue is one of the greatest challenges in cancer surgery. Previous methods such as tissue removal during the operation only provide clarity about the success of the treatment after the fact. A team at Friedrich Schiller University Jena, the Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (Leibniz-IPHT), Jena University Hospital (UKJ) and the Jena-based company Grintech has developed a solution: An endoscope that works with light and artificial intelligence precisely detects tumour boundaries - without the use of dyes.

"Our technology combines different optical imaging methods as part of a multimodal approach to analyse the chemical and structural properties of tissue in real time," explains Prof. Dr Jürgen Popp, Director of the Institute of Physical Chemistry at the University of Jena and Scientific Director of Leibniz-IPHT, who has been researching the technology with his team for over a decade. "This makes it possible to identify tumour boundaries with high precision." The images are analysed using artificial intelligence, which processes the relevant information at lightning speed and makes it available to the surgeons. "This enables surgeons to make informed decision during the procedure," adds Matteo Calvarese, first author of the study and doctoral student at Leibniz-IPHT.

Combination of diagnosis and therapy

What is special about the new technology is that diagnosis and therapy are combined in one device. An integrated femtosecond laser precisely ablates ill tissue without damaging surrounding healthy tissue. "The principle of 'detect and treat' is a major step forward because it makes operations safer and improves the chances of recovery," emphasises Prof. Dr Orlando Guntinas-Lichius, Director of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at Jena University Hospital and co-author of the study. "For us as surgeons, this means that we can remove tumours more effectively and at the same time better preserve healthy tissue. This could significantly reduce the number of follow-up operations and the burden on patients."

This principle has already been successfully trialled in preclinical tests with tissue samples from 15 patients. The technology achieved a detection accuracy of 96 per cent and was able to remove tumour tissue with unprecedented precision.

Optical precision technology from Jena

A significant contribution to the development of the technology was made by the Jena-based company Grintech, which developed high-precision miniaturised optical components for the endomicroscope and assembled them into a complete applicator system. This enables the detailed visualisation of tissue structures and their chemical composition with the same quality as large laboratory microscopes. "Our optical systems deliver the accuracy that is essential for the successful application of this technology for endoscopic examinations," explains Dr Bernhard Messerschmidt, Managing Director of Grintech. "The close exchange between industry, clinical departments and research here in Jena has made this innovation possible in the first place."

From research to clinical departments

The development of the technology is part of the TheraOptik project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The technology is currently in the preclinical test phase. The next step is a clinical trial with a larger group of patients. "Our aim is for this light-based procedure to be used as standard in cancer surgery in a few years' time," says Jürgen Popp. In the long term, the technology could also be used in other fields such as dermatology or Neurosurgery.