Groundbreaking Technique Developed to Measure Oxygen in Deep-sited Tumors

A novel Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) oximetry technique will help clinicians directly measure oxygen and schedule treatments at times of high oxygen levels in cancer and stroke patients to improve outcomes, according to a recent study published in the journal Stroke. A certain level of oxygen in a cell of tissue is necessary to maintain normal processes, and it plays a pivotal role in the development and treatment of various diseases. The effectiveness of several therapies depends on the oxygen levels in a malignancy. For example, a very low level of oxygen in cancer (solid tumors) is known to develop aggressive phenotypes, varies with the growth of tumors and it also compromises the effectiveness of chemotherapy and radiation. Oxygen measurement in deep-sited tissue has been a challenge for several existing techniques, which has unfortunately limited the understanding of various pathologies in large animals and humans. In their most recent experiment, which demonstrated the efficacy of in vivo EPR oximetry, researchers from Darmouth University used a one-time implementation of the oxygen probes in the brain of a rabbit and successfully monitored oxygen levels for several weeks. The investigators conclude that real-time monitoring of tissue oxygenation using implantable resonators will be a powerful tool in stroke and cancer research. To read more about this study, click here.