The ongoing clinical trial demonstrated an initial 94% sensitivity rate in tumour detection. The new test is delivered in less than 20 minutes and relies on existing clinical ultrasound equipment.
Despite using multi-parametric MRI for prostate cancer diagnosis, up to 28% of clinically significant tumours are missed, and 1-in-2 patients with positive MRI findings receive a negative biopsy result.
Less Grey Imaging is a spin-out from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, with the mission to bring greater clarity to prostate imaging. The technology offers clinicians up to a 20-fold increase in resolution compared to multi-parametric MRI, which provides a grey and difficult-to-read image.
The new imaging test begins by injecting a commonly used contrast agent into a vein that contains millions of tiny and harmless microbubbles that travel through the patient's bloodstream to the prostate. The team uses a technique known as super resolution ultrasound imaging to track these microbubbles as they flow inside the prostate. Due to the altered blood flow in cancerous tissue, the image highlights previously unseen tumours, enabling earlier diagnosis.
Dr George Papageorgiou, chief executive of Less Grey Imaging, said: ‘Our initial clinical findings in prostate imaging align well with histopathology, highlighting its potential to reliably detect clinically significant prostate cancer.
‘Currently, prostate cancer diagnosis varies widely across the country, with many patients being diagnosed too late for curative treatment. By integrating ultrasound more prominently into the diagnostic pathway, we can ensure equal opportunities for early diagnosis across all regions of the UK.'
He added: ‘Our software deploys existing ultrasound equipment to enhance image quality down to microscopic detail. By minimising reliance on radiologist assessment, we intend to streamline workflows, reduce NHS costs, and improve patient efficiency.'
The potential of the technology has been recognised by Innovate UK, which awarded the company a £370,000 grant through its ICURe Exploit funding programme. This is being used to support the company's product development and attract further investment.
Professor Vassilis Sboros, from Heriot-Watt University's School of Engineering and Physical Sciences and co-founder of Less Grey Imaging, said: ‘Our super-resolution ultrasound imaging technology provides a leap in imaging resolution. By utilising existing ultrasound scanners found in hospitals and clinics worldwide, we're able to produce high-resolution images of the prostate that clinicians have never seen before. This is exactly what the new Government needs to tackle the challenges facing the NHS.
‘Back in 2019, we proved the concept worked in our lab but now we have shown it works during our initial patient trials. It's just like looking inside the body with a microscope, allowing clinicians to see 20 times more detail than before. Even concealed tumours are possible to identify. With one man dying from prostate cancer every 45 minutes in the UK, we hope earlier detection will radically improve treatment outcomes, saving lives while reducing the number of people sent for unnecessary and often risky tests.'
Professor Alan McNeill, a consultant urological surgeon at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh and founder trustee of charity Prostate Scotland, added: ‘The technology has the potential to significantly enhance diagnostic accuracy, help clinicians like me to carry out more targeted biopsies and even focus treatments with greater precision.
'I can anticipate it benefiting treatments like focal therapy by allowing us to pinpoint and treat cancerous tissue with greater accuracy. Nearly every week, my colleagues and I meet men in their 50s or early 60s suffering from advanced prostate cancer that leaves them with fewer treatment options. We continue to raise awareness and encourage earlier diagnosis for all men.'
