Grant: Project Grant

Cancer is most treatable when detected early by screening. Cervical cancer, is currently the only gynecologic cancer with an accepted screening test. The goal of this research project is to further develop and evaluate an imaging device for the detection and localization of other gynecologic cancers including vulvar, cervical and endocervical canal. The device - which uses light in a variety of unique ways - has already shown promise for the localization of small nodules in the lung. This proposal will use light to make images similar to ultrasound with 3D depth information, red, green and blue light to make extremely high resolution (~100th of a mm) white light images and blue illumination with green detection of tissue autofluorescence images (similar to a white shirt under black light [UV]). The research will enable the development of new tools to visualize the gynecologic tract at very high-resolution providing clinicians with the ability to see abnormal tissue and tissue changes not seen before. In other tissue site this approach has enabled improved cancer management and we expect to generate similar results for these gynecologic cancers.