PET imaging is precise, minimally invasive, cost efficient and advanced. This type of imaging alongside traditional MRI scanning provides a 90% accuracy in diagnosis by surgeons by targeting the specific cancer tissue, which can help make more appropriate treatment decisions for patients.
The interdisciplinary work of undergraduate engineering students Steffie-Ann Monthy and Daniel Gonzalez Gasque, Associate Professor Veeru Kasivisvanathan, a clinical consultant, Alex Dudko, a medical student supervisor, and Aishwarya Shah, a research group member, provides greater progress in addressing this need for prostate cancer care.
Steffie-Ann and Daniel investigated clinical and medical imaging information including reviewing patient outcomes, identifying patterns, and preparing the data on the use of Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) PET scanning at University College London Hospital.
Their work has been crucial in building a reliable database that can potentially shape future clinical decision-making for prostate cancer treatment. Through this summer studentship, they have been able to work face-to-face with clinical research teams, gain real-world insights into the medical field, and been inspired to pursue research or clinical-related careers going forward.
Associate Professor Veeru Kasivisvanathan, clinician and supervisor
What is the current experience for someone with prostate cancer like?
The biggest change in the last 10 years has been the introduction of MRI. Before that, we just treated the whole gland. So, with MRI, you can see the prostate, you can see the lesions. You can target your biopsies and you can target your treatments. However, MRI is not perfect. It misses about 10-20% of cancers, and prostate cancer tends to be a disease which is more commonly in more than one place.
So, when you do a PET scan and combine it with the MRI imaging and a biopsy, your certainty about having cancer in just one place goes up to an estimated 95%. It adds information onto the existing pathway to help confirm whether we’re doing the right thing.
Daniel Gonzalez Gasque, summer student in Biochemical Engineering at UCL
How has the studentship contrasted or complimented your usual studies?
Well, this is completely different. Biochemical Engineering focuses more on [the] making of medicines. And there’s normally no patient interaction, but that’s why I think this is such a cool opportunity. Because obviously this is the other side. But like, who are the doctors that prescribe these medicines? Who are the patients that take these medicines? Those are the people that you’re helping in the end.
Steffie-Ann Monthy, summer student in Biomedical Engineering at UCL
My research project was specifically about prostate cancer, so it was very complimentary to what I had already learned. So, I had a lot of background knowledge coming into it, but at the same time, completely new as well. I learned so much more to add on to the knowledge I had before, and it kind of inspired me a lot more, because I could see physically what the engineering side is contributing. It reminded me why I study biomedical engineering!
