The research team at Imperial College London, led by Professor Maria Kyrgiou, are researching a way to improve the diagnosis and treatment of vulval cancer. They will be using a new technology called Laser-assisted Rapid Evaporative Ionisation Mass Spectrometry (Laser-REIMS), to try and give an instant diagnosis and a kinder treatment option for vulval cancer.
Currently, to investigate whether any vulval symptoms are caused by cancer, biopsies are taken and looked at under a microscope, which can be an invasive and painful process. One of the main treatments for vulval cancer is surgery to remove the affected areas. Surgery for vulval cancer, or precancerous cells on the vulva, can cause considerable side effects- from pain, lymphoedema, loss of mobility and a big impact on someone’s sex life and relationships. And there is a high recurrence rate, around 4 or 5 out of every 10 people with precancerous vulval legions get a recurrence. One of the reasons behind this is it is difficult to see the difference between non-cancerous and cancerous tissue by eye.
The new laser-REIMS technology uses a surgical laser to heat the area of concern, which creates a vapor that is rapidly analysed to see whether the area is cancer, precancer, or healthy tissue. This would enable doctors to give an immediate diagnosis in the clinic, reducing invasive tests and procedures, increasing surgery accuracy, and reduce the waiting anxiety for patients.
Researchers hope this would also allow doctors to confidently remove affected areas without unnecessary removal of extra skin, making the process of diagnosis and treatment for vulval cancer much smoother and kinder for women and reduce the impact this has on their lives.
It is with a huge thank you to everyone who donated to our Vulval Cancer Research Fund that we announce this new research, your kind donations made it possible.
If you would like to contribute to the Rare Gynaecological Cancer Fund, you can do so through our donate link, and let us know that you would like your donation to go to the Rare Gynae Cancer Fund in the box titled ‘Is there anything else you would like to tell us about your donation?’.