A research project focused on the use of nanoparticles to improve the treatment and visualization of tumours received $6.6 million in funding from the Terry Fox Research Institute. The project will receive five years of funding through the New Frontiers Program and will be led by Dr. Gang Zheng (PM Senior Scientist and Techna Core Lead), Dr. Brian Wilson (PM Senior Scientist and Techna Core Lead), and Dr. Jonathan Irish (Techna Core Lead), together with Dr. Christine Démoré and Dr. Stuart Foster at Sunnybrook Research Institute.
The research team will advance the development of two Canadian technology platforms: porphysome nanoparticles, which are small injectable particles that accumulate within tumours; and photoacoustic imaging, which uses short pulses of laser light to produce high resolution images of tumours. The researchers will examine a treatment strategy involving the use of nanoparticles that absorb light and can convert it into heat energy that selectively destroys tumour tissue.
This project will focus on prostate and thyroid tumours—two cancers that lack minimally-invasive treatment options. Current treatments for these tumour types involve either a ‘watch and wait’ approach or the use of aggressive surgeries to remove the cancer. These surgeries can have unwanted side effects and impair quality of life for patients.
“The majority of prostate and thyroid cancers won’t kill you, but some will need treatment,” explains Dr. Zheng. “If we can avoid invasive surgery for most patients, we can eliminate harmful side effects—and the economic burden for Canada will be decreased by this as well.” With this funding, the researchers will focus on fast-tracking these new technologies to the clinic so that they can help patients.
The project, titled The Terry Fox New Frontiers Program Project in Nanoparticle-Enhanced Photoacoustic Imaging for Cancer Localization and Therapeutic Guidance, is a renewal of a previous project funded by the same program.