The objective of the project “Nanoguide: Image-Guided Radiation Therapy using Nanoparticles” (NanoGuide) is to enhance cancer treatment by developing novel nanoparticle based imaging agents. The aim is to increase the precision and quality of radiation therapy by improving targeting of the tumour and avoiding damage to adjacent healthy tissue through better visualisation of the cancer.
The project is a major strategic effort funded by the Danish Council for Strategic Research, involving multiple research groups at the Technical University of Denmark and Copenhagen University Hospital – Rigshospitalet. NanoGuide is carried out in collaboration with two companies, GE Healthcare and Nanovi.
For more information about the partners, please click here
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Background
Annually more than 12 million people are diagnosed with cancer worldwide, and more than 7.5 million people die from the disease each year. In the future, these numbers are expected to grow due to an increasing population, longer life expectancy and Western world life style. Radiotherapy is, together with surgery and chemotherapy, part of the fundamental treatment for cancer. More than half of the cancer patients will receive radiotherapy at least once during the course of their treatment.
Radiotherapy consists of three elements: Radiation equipment, imaging equipment and a marker used as a point of reference for the radiation. Radiotherapy destroys the diseased tissue and spares the healthy. Currently, the weakest link in the treatment is the marker.
The challenge is to track the cancer during treatment, for example in lung cancer it can be difficult to hit the tumour as it moves when the patient breathes. Today, tumours are marked by implanting small gold seeds surgically into the tumour using long needles; however, this can be risky for the patients as well as difficult to accomplish.
NanoGuide will develop markers that will improve tumour visibility in multiple imaging modalities by acting as contrast agents; the markers will also be compatible with both systemic and local administration – depending on the type of tumour. Furthermore, the results of this project have the potential not only to improve the quality of cancer treatment, but also to lead to an increased productivity and resource exploitation in the clinic as well as decrease patient discomfort.
Work Packages
NanoGuide consists of four work packages.
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Work Package
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Title
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Work Package Leader
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1
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Nanoparticle marker development
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Dr. Thomas L. Andresen, DTU Nanotech
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2
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Preclinical Evaluation
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Professor Andreas Kjær, Rigshospitalet
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3
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Clinical Evaluation
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Professor Lena Specht, Rigshospitalet
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4
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Dissemination, promotion and IPR
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Professor Rolf. H. Berg, DTU Nanotech
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Advisory Board
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Professor Liselotte Højgaard, Head of department, Department of Clinical Physiology, Nuclear Medicine & PET, Rigshospitalet, Denmark
- Dr. Scott Johnson, PhD, Senior Manager of Research Collaborations, Varian Medical Systems, USA
- Renate Parry, Senior Scientist in radiobiology, Varian Medical Systems, USA
- Dr. Bengt Nielsen, Chief Executive of GE Healthcare International Research Division, Sweden
- Joachim Yahalom, M.D., Professor of Radiation Oncology in Medicine, Dept. of Radiation Oncology, Cornell University and Sandford I. Weill Medical College and Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA