FRIDAY, 26 OCTOBER 2007
The winning group of researchers, known collectively as the ‘Cambridge Breast IMRT Trial Management’ group, specialise in the development of IMRT (Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy) at the Addenbrooke's Hospital.
A laser-scanned image of a breast. Image from Department of Engineering.Major breakthroughs leading to the award was due to the collaboration with the University of Cambridge Department of Engineering. Dr Graham Treece’s group discovered a unique imaging tool to quantify the reduction of breast size using laser surface matching software.
For the first time in breast cancer, comparative analysis will be able to be carried out by imaging the surface of the skin to identify the ability of treatments to reduce breast tumours. This allows the proposed IMRT method to be tested for effectiveness against the current radiotherapy method.
Up until now, determination of changing shape and size has been difficult due to the complex curvature of the breast and the inability to match curvature from one visit to the next. The new imaging however, shows clearly the reduction.
Addenbrookes Hospital
Cambridge University Engineering Department
Written by Amy Chesterton
 at the Addenbrooke's Hospital.<br><br><div class='caption'><div id="attachment_8685" align="alignright" width="300"><img src="https://www.bluesci.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/breast.jpeg" alt="" class="size-full wp-image-8685" width="300" height="168"> A laser-scanned image of a breast. Image from Department of Engineering.</div></div>IMRT is a form of treatment for breast cancer patients which is less toxic to the body than the current radiotherapy being used. The group is hoping to develop the technique to be widely available, but first many trials must be carried out. There are currently over 1000 patient volunteers helping with the work, including the use of their DNA to look for any genetic susceptibility to side effects.<br><br>Major breakthroughs leading to the award was due to the collaboration with the University of Cambridge Department of Engineering. Dr Graham Treece’s group discovered a unique imaging tool to quantify the reduction of breast size using laser surface matching software.<br><br>For the first time in breast cancer, comparative analysis will be able to be carried out by imaging the surface of the skin to identify the ability of treatments to reduce breast tumours. This allows the proposed IMRT method to be tested for effectiveness against the current radiotherapy method.<br><br>Up until now, determination of changing shape and size has been difficult due to the complex curvature of the breast and the inability to match curvature from one visit to the next. The new imaging however, shows clearly the reduction.<br><br><a href="https://www.addenbrookes.org.uk/">Addenbrookes Hospital</a><br><br><a href="https://www.eng.cam.ac.uk/">Cambridge University Engineering Department</a><br><br>Written by Amy Chesterton){kind=link}