A device co-developed by a University of Houston (UH) physicist to detect the spread
of breast cancer and allow physicians to better plan intervention is extending its
market reach, bringing it another step closer to clinical trials in the U.S.
The SentiMag is a novel intraoperative probe that enables surgeons to more effectively
locate the sentinel lymph node – the first lymph node to which a tumor’s metastasizing
cancer cells drain. The highly sensitive SentiMag instrument and its associated Sienna+
tracer combine nanotechnology and advanced magnetic sensors. Their patented technology
removes the need for radiation, speeds up the process and puts the detection of the
sentinel lymph node directly in the hands of surgeons.
Co-developed by Audrius Brazdeikis, a research associate professor of physics in the
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at UH, and his colleagues at the University
College of London (UCL), the device has been in use for more than a year in Europe
and will now be distributed in the Middle East and Africa. Brazdeikis says approval
for use in the U.S. is not far behind.
This most recent development of distribution beyond Europe is the result of an agreement
signed between Sysmex Europe GmbH, a leading international company designing and producing
diagnostic solutions for medical laboratories worldwide, and Endomagnetics Ltd., a
UH spinoff medical devices company. Brazdeikis, who heads the Biomedical Imaging Group
at the Texas Center for Superconductivity at UH (TcSUH), formed Endomagnetics with
physics professor Quentin Pankhurst and systems engineer Simon Hattersley from UCL
to bring their technology to the marketplace.
“The most rewarding aspect in this adventure has been taking our original idea and
seeing it through to market introduction,” Brazdeikis said. “The biggest challenge
wasn’t the technology or research or science, but actually developing collaborations
across the science and business interface to make this commercialization happen.”
Current protocol for locating the sentinel node involves injecting a radioactive isotope
several hours before surgery, followed by the surgeon using a highly directional Geiger
counter, called a gamma probe, in the operating room to locate the lymph node with
the highest radioactivity. Alternately, the SentiMag from Endomagnetics uses a detection
system based on magnetics rather than radiation, with the radioactive tracer being
replaced by the magnetic nanoparticle tracer and the handheld magnetic sensor replacing
the gamma probe.
“This new method requires a surgeon to simply inject the area around a tumor with
the Sienna+ nanoparticle, wait 30 minutes for the tracer to accumulate in the lymph
nodes and then scan the area of interest using the SentiMag probe to locate the sentinel
nodes,” Brazdeikis said. “In contrast to the radioactive tracer, a typical magnetic
tracer has a shelf life of many months. There are no staff safety issues or disposal
of radioactive waste, which lifts regulatory burdens. It also reduces overall cost
for the hospital by improving surgery scheduling and, therefore, is more accessible
to all patients.”
Initially funded by the UK-Texas Bioscience Initiative, the SentiMag system is currently
in use in eight European Union countries – the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, France,
Italy, Belgium, Holland and Switzerland. When used together with the injectable Sienna+
nanoparticle, SentiMag gives physicians the ability to better gauge the extent to
which cancer has spread.
Sysmex being granted the exclusive right to provide sales and support for this revolutionary
system across the European, Middle Eastern and African regions will provide a strong
platform for further investment and growth. This is Endomagnetics’ first multi-region
agreement, and it promises to extend widely the clinical use of the company’s technology.
“We are extremely pleased with initial customer feedback,” said Eric Mayes, CEO of
Endomagnetics. “Partnering with a group as strong as Sysmex gives us the geographic
scope and customer support we need to really make an impact.”
###
About the University of Houston
The University of Houston is a Carnegie-designated Tier One public research university
recognized by The Princeton Review as one of the nation’s best colleges for undergraduate
education. UH serves the globally competitive Houston and Gulf Coast Region by providing
world-class faculty, experiential learning and strategic industry partnerships. Located
in the nation’s fourth-largest city, UH serves more than 39,500 students in the most
ethnically and culturally diverse region in the country. For more information about
UH, visit the university’s newsroom at http://www.uh.edu/news-events/.
To receive UH science news via e-mail, sign up for UH-SciNews.
For additional news alerts about UH, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.