Endoscopic Laser Raman Spectroscopy for Colorectal Cancer Detection in IBD Patients

Inflammatory Bowel disease (IBD) affects over 200,000 Canadians. Individuals with IBD have significantly greater risk of developing colorectal cancer. Unfortunately, the screening for colorectal cancer that is currently provided to the general population is inadequate for this group. White light colonoscopy is currently the gold standard but is challenging, as lesions are sometimes difficult to identify. Thus, random biopsies, in addition to targeted biopsies of abnormalities visualized by white light, are often performed. This leads to complications and patients suffering, as well as significant healthcare cost. Our objective is to develop a novel endoscopy approach to improve the clinical management of IBD. An endoscope probe based on a technology called Raman spectroscopy will be developed that analyzes the tissue biochemistry before biopsy. We expect that this new technology when successfully developed will greatly improve the accuracy of biopsy, saving health care cost and improve colorectal cancer detection in IBD patients.

Faculty Supervisor:

Haishan Zeng

Student:

Yunxian Giselle Tian

Partner:

Vancouver General Hospital

Discipline:

Other

Sector:

Health care and social assistance

University:

University of British Columbia