NovaScan, a clinical stage oncology company based in Chicago and Milwaukee, recently had its publication titled Cole Relaxation Frequency as a Prognostic Parameter for Breast Cancer accepted in a peer-reviewed journal, the Journal of Patient Centered Research and Reviews.
During this study, NovaScan, which is developing breakthrough point of care devices for treatment of skin and other types of cancer, demonstrated that the magnitude of the Cole frequency correlates not only with the presence of cancer, but also with the aggressiveness of cancer and the likelihood and timing of post-surgical recurrence.
Historically, physicians have used a combination of tumor features and clinical biomarkers including size, grade, presence of estrogen and progesterone receptors (ER and PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2/neu) status to estimate prognosis as well as to predict best treatment approaches and outcomes1. However, cancer is a multifarious illness that expresses itself uniquely within each individual patient. A single therapy can provoke a vastly different reaction depending on each tumor’s unique molecular signature2. This means that the accuracy of typical prognostic and predictive tests varies greatly depending on the patient. Moreover, typical tests are not available at the point of care.
NovaScan technology takes a completely different approach to prognosis that does not appear to vary based on the patient. Using this technology, physicians can make more informed treatment decisions and they can do so more quickly given the immediate testing results the NovaScan technology provides. In a biopsy or surgical setting, the physician brings a small probe close to the tissue being examined. This probe measures the Cole Relaxation Frequency (CRF), a signal related to the electrical properties of cells. The CRF range for cells that are cancerous is significantly higher than the CRF range of benign cells. Additionally, within the co-called ‘cancer range’ the precise value of CRF informs on prognosis.
“We think there is utility in medicine for real time stratification of cancer,” remarked NovaScan CEO, Craig Davis. “Being able to inform on aggressiveness at the point of biopsy has significant potential to inform on treatment pathways without compromising surgical timelines. Better, more appropriate treatment that is individualized to the patient remains the goal.”
Citations:
- Yersal O, Barutca S. Biological subtypes of breast cancer: prognostic and therapeutic implications. World J Clin Oncol. 2014;5:412-24. Crossref
- Dagogo-Jack I, Shaw AT. Tumour heterogeneity and resistance to cancer therapies. Nat Rev Clin Oncol. 2018;15:81-94. Crossref