UCL Cancer Institute Multidisciplinary Seminar Series

The UCL Cancer Institute Multidisciplinary Seminar Series highlights research from disciplines across UCL. The monthly seminars aim to present new and exciting work to Cancer Institute researchers and to forge collaborations across different disciplines in UCL.

Photoacoustic imaging as a tool for cancer research

Professor Paul Beard - Dept of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering

Photoacoustic imaging is a biomedical imaging modality based on the use of laser-generated ultrasound that has emerged over the last decade. Its distinguishing advantage over conventional optical imaging is that it encodes optical contrast on to acoustic waves which are scattered much less than photons in tissue. It can therefore provide much greater penetration depths than conventional light microscopy and higher resolution than diffuse optical methods such as fluorescence optical tomography; centimetre scale depths with a scalable spatial resolution ranging from tens to hundreds of microns are readily achievable. Image contrast is defined by optical absorption. Due to the strong absorption of haemoglobin this makes it particularly well suited to visualising vascular anatomy and function. This capability has already been exploited in preclinical studies to visualise the development of tumour vasculature and its response to therapy. Moreover, through the use of targeted contrast agents and genetic reporters there is further potential to image pathological  processes at the molecular and cellular level. All of this makes the technique a powerful tool for both preclinical cancer research and clinical diagnosis and treatment monitoring. The physical principles of the technique and examples of current and potential applications in cancer research will be described.

X-Ray Phase Contrast Imaging (XPCI) and its potential applications in cancer research

Dr Sandro Olivo, Head of the XPCI Group – Dept of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering

Over recent years, a new mechanism has emerged to produce contrast in x-ray images, based on changes in x-ray phase. Although technically challenging, this provides significant advantages, because the physical quantity responsible for phase changes is typically 1000x larger than that determining the absorption properties of a material. As a consequence, “phase” contrast is much stronger than absorption contrast: this allows the detection of features classically considered x-ray invisible, and it enhances the visibility of all details in an x-ray image.

While the need for synchrotron radiation or other specialized x-ray sources has initially limited the uptake of XPCI outside specialized labs, more recently the UCL XPCI group has developed an approach that allows implementation with conventional x-ray sources, hence opening the way to wider translation.

In this talk I will briefly introduce XPCI, explain how the UCL method works, and present examples of applications – with particular emphasis on cancer. Anticipated areas of overlap are in the development of 1) imaging tools for earlier diagnosis 2) pre-clinical scanners for cancer research (e.g. drug development) 3) high resolution/high sensitivity methods to analyse tissue constructs – however it is hoped that additional suggestions will emerge from the ensuing discussion.

A light lunch will be provided after the seminar

Location

UCL Cancer Institute
Courtyard Café
Paul O'Gorman Building 
72 Huntley Street
London, WC1E 6DD

Further information 

• Image: Photoacoustic image of LS174T tumour (14mm)
• This seminar is part-sponsored by NIHR University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre
• Professor Paul Beard academic profile
• Dr Alessandro Olivio academic profile