Detecting Invisible Precursors of Cancer with Scattered Light

Vadim Backman
Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering
Northwestern University

Friday, November 19, 2004

Dr. Backman will cover some basics of Light Scattering Spectroscopy, and proceeded to explain how such techniques could be applied to the early detection of cancers, which is of course, important in providing the most successful treatment. This new technique is much less invasive than conventional X-ray and colonoscopic procedures and is more sensitive to early cancer diagnosis.

Bio Sketch
Dr. Vadim Backman, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, at Northwestern University, earned his PhD in Medical Engineering and Medical Physics from Harvard University and MIT's Division of Health Sciences and Technology.

Minutes of November 19, 2004
Professor Vadim Backman, PhD
Northwestern University
Department of Biomedical Engineering
"Detecting Invisible Precursors of Cancer with Scattered Light"

Members were given an opportunity to mingle, as well as meet the evening's guest speaker, while enjoying a meal of Chinese food, at the McCrone Research Institute.

Following dinner, President, Bill Mikuska began the formal portion of the meeting by making a few announcements. First, mentioning the upcoming Amateur's Night scheduled for December 10th, encouraging members to attend, and participate by preparing a short presentation. Bill went on to give an update on the status of the High School Teacher's Course in Polarized Light Microscopy, ongoing at Argonne National Laboratory. The course, which ends on December 4th, is proceeding well.

Guest speaker, Dr. Vadim Backman, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, at Northwestern University, earned his PhD in Medical Engineering and Medical Physics from Harvard University and MIT's Division of Health Sciences and Technology.

Backman covered some basics of Light Scattering Spectroscopy, and proceeded to explain how such techniques could be applied to the early detection of cancers, which is of course, important in providing the most successful treatment.

Cancer of the colon was the focus. The audience was informed that far in advance of tumor formation, certain precursors are formed, which, are not detectable by commonly employed techniques. In clinical trials, Dr. Backman's approach, using the described light scattering techniques that break the Abbe diffraction limit by at least an order of magnitude have proven themselves to be extremely good predictors of this cancer - both in rats, as well as humans.

The results of the described trials suggest that years prior to detection by endoscopic techniques, these precursors could be detected, and even be used to follow the effectiveness of treatments.

Furthermore, the precursors are detectable throughout the colon, so that detection by this method would not require anything as invasive or uncomfortable as currently used endoscopy. Dr. Backman compared an examination by his method to taking a rectal temperature.

Respectfully submitted, Robert Kuksuk, Recording Secretary