This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 816892. Oncological probe for intraoperative identification of cancerous tissues during surgical treatment for breast cancer
High precision
The effectiveness of the probe has been confirmed in clinical studies conducted on several hundred patients
Real-time information
The device that allows intraoperative assessment of healthy tissue margins
Usability
Ergonomics and easy interpretation of results adapted to the surgeon's working conditions
Reliability
Refined and repeatedly tested design made of high quality materials
A probe is a device whose indications are related to the electrical properties (particularly permittivity and conductivity) that distinguish healthy and cancerous tissues. In the case of breast cancer, the dielectric properties of healthy tissue resembles fat tissue, and diseased breast tissue resembles muscle tissue.
No. The method works well in those cases where there is a large difference in electrical properties between healthy and diseased tissue. This is especially true for breast cancer, presumably, the probe will be useful in the case of atherosclerosis (plaque calcification) or lymph nodes (including the cancer-affected sentinel nodes). In the case of breast cancer the equipment brings the most benefits so far.
Our probe has been clinically tested by inventors on several hundred patients. The tests have shown that its application allows for correct identification of tumor tissues. Sensitivity and specificity were 93% and 87% respectively (193 samples from 70 patients). We thus demonstrated that we have developed a precise and easy-to-use device for intraoperative localization of breast cancer.
Breast cancer is the most commonly occurring cancer among women and the second most common cancer overall. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) the number of new breast cancer cases in 2018 is estimated at the level of 2.1M. It means that every 15 seconds someone is diagnosed with breast cancer. Moreover, breast cancer is the 5th most common cause of death from cancer.
Since 2012 worldwide breast cancer incidence increased by more than 23% and mortality by 14%. Bearing that in mind, ONCOscanner deals with both societal and market issue.
The main goal of breast conserving surgery (BCS) is the complete removal of cancer with clear surgical margins while maintaining the natural shape of the breast. However, there is a conflict between obtaining an adequate excision margin around the tumor and not removing too much tissue, which may result in breast deformity. Currently, about 20-30% of patients require reoperation after a BCS, what contributes to: decreased patient satisfaction, increased health care costs and poorer cosmetic results. ONCOscanner will decrease this percentage, as it enables the surgeon to better recognise which sections of tissue still need to be removed.
Kazimierz Orzechowski, PhD
Principal Investigator
Learn moreSpecialist in physical chemistry, employed at the University of Wrocław, Faculty of Chemistry (1984 PhD, 1999 habilitation, 2003 the position of associate professor). In over 30 years of professional activity he combines both theoretical and practical knowledge in the study of phenomena from the borderline of chemistry, physics and medicine.
He has experience in investigating dielectric properties of materials (including biological) in a wide range of frequencies, temperatures and electric field strengths (the so-called nonlinear dielectric effect). His scientific interests include application of dielectric methods to study dynamics and structure of matter, critical phenomena in the vicinity of continuous phase transitions, nanomaterials, micellar systems, electromagnetic wave absorbing materials.
He is a leader of Structure and Molecular Interaction Team and the head of the dielectrics laboratory at the Department of Chemistry, Wroclaw University.
He is a chairman of the Section of Organic Physical Chemistry of the Polish Chemical Society, Chairman of the District Committee of the Chemical Olympiad in Wroclaw. He is an organizer or co-organizer of over 15 conferences of international scope (European Meating on Physical Organic Chemistry). He was the Coordinator of the Lower Silesian Science Festival.
Marek Rząca, MD
Oncologic Surgeon
Learn moreExperienced surgical oncologist specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, endoscopic procedures, and the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal cancers. He boasts of having performed nearly 2,000 procedures related to breast cancer.
During his career he worked for over 18 years in the Lower Silesian Oncology Centre in Wroclaw, in the years 1999-2003 he was the head of the Endoscopy Unit and deputy head of the Department of General Surgery and Oncology at the Railway Hospital in Wroclaw, and currently he is the head of the Breast Cancer Rapid Diagnostics Centre in the Wroclaw City Hall programme "Breast self-examination". Since 1995 she has been working as a specialist in oncological surgery at the Specialist Medical Clinic ONKOMED, and since 2004 also in the Department of Cancer Diagnostics at the Department of Oncological Surgery of the Regional Specialist Hospital in Wrocław, where she deals with cancer diagnostics and treatment.
He has extensive experience in managing projects and medical facilities. He performs an important function in connection with the introduction of the oncology probe, since as a member of the project team he is also its user.
Stanisław Baj
Main Engineer & Designer
Learn moreElectronic engineer, who received his education at the Faculty of Electronics of Wrocław University of Technology in 1981, obtaining the professional degree of engineer, and later master's degree. In his professional career to date he has taken part in numerous projects aimed at both designing and manufacturing various types of electronic devices - mainly instruments and measuring devices using, among others, microprocessors, converters and digital signal and pulse generators of any shape and frequency.
He designed and built – among others – laboratory stations for measurement of nonlinear dielectric effect, piezoelectric effect, stations for ferroelectrics research for Wroclaw University. He is also involved in work for commercial companies, including design of industrial controllers, development and implementation of expanders for telecommunication networks.
Marcin Łuczyn
CEO
Learn moreAn experienced entrepreneur and manager. Responsible for business and operational issues in the company. For over 12 years strongly involved in the new technology market. Has extensive experience in venture capital and private equity funds.
He has also successfully developed several companies by co-founding Alpha Capital Group - a group of advisory and investment companies. In 2015, together with two partners, he founded TestArmy Group S.A., which within a few years grew to a team of 80 people. Co-founder of Codemy S.A. - Poland's largest online programming school, which has graduated over 3000 students so far.
Very strongly associated with the capital market. He gained his experience in investment banking working for Raiffeisen Investments in Vienna and indirectly for Lazard, a New York-based investment bank, where he was responsible for mergers and acquisitions, raising capital and selling companies. While holding positions in management and supervisory boards of a number of portfolio companies owned by investment funds, he was responsible for the implementation of strategies to increase their value. He graduated from Europa Universität Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder).
The ONCOscanner team is scientifically affiliated with:
Provincial Specialist Hospital in Wrocław
Research and Development Centre
Learn moreSince 2006, when it was granted the status of Research and Development Centre, the Wrocław Regional Specialist Hospital has been carrying out continuous scientific research and development works through three organisational structures of the Hospital, i.e: Scientific Laboratory, Centre for Robotic Surgery and Centre for Clinical Research.
The Centre performs a wide range of scientific research - mainly basic research, but also applied and implementation research. A very important area of the Centre's activity is clinical research, which, due to the availability of hospital patients and staff involved in research, is a great asset of the Research and Development Centre.
University of Wrocław
Faculty of Chemistry
Learn moreFaculty of Chemistry of Wroclaw University is engaged in scientific research including: structural chemistry, chemistry and reactivity of coordination compounds, chemistry and physics of lanthanide compounds, chemistry and stereochemistry of organic compounds, intermolecular interactions, molecular catalysis and reaction mechanisms, biological chemistry and molecular biophysics, electrochemistry, chemistry and physics of new materials.
These topics are carried out in 20 Research Teams and many Research Laboratories.
We are looking for:
If you are interested please contact us at biuro@oncoscanner.com.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 816892.