BC Cancer Agency study

BC Cancer Agency has received a $2.5 million grant from the National Institute of Dental Craniofacial Research to pioneer new technologies that detect oral cancer, as part of the BC Oral Cancer Prevention Program.

Changes in the mouth that are undetectable by the naked eye become visible with the help of the VELScope, a fluorescence technology developed at the BC Cancer Agency, an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority. The blue light directed by this hand-held, portable device helps dentists to define the borders of a cancerous lesion that are otherwise invisible under white light.

"You could compare it to the Pap smear screening for cervical cancer," explains Dr. Miriam Rosin, senior scientist at the BC Cancer Agency and professor at Simon Fraser University. "Dentists will be able to use the VELscope to determine who needs more evaluation through scrapings from the oral cavity or biopsy which will be sent to a central BC Oral Biopsy Service."

Currently being used on participants recruited to a clinical trial at the BC Cancer Agency, it will be soon used on high-risk patient groups in dentists' offices. Training and technology should enable the people at the point of screening to determine whether the lesion should be monitored, or if the patient should be referred for further assessment. In some cases, the dentist can decide immediately whether a biopsy should be taken at that point.  An educational program is being developed in collaboration with the Association of BC Dentists and the Faculty of Dentistry, UBC.

Computers with pattern-recognition capabilities will allow Dr. Lewei Zhang and her colleagues to identify subtle changes in samples from the oral cavity that are undetectable with conventional microscopy.  This technology has recently been highlighted at an international congress in Montreal, where it was reported that cheek cells could identify lung cancer. 

"The beauty of these technologies is the ability to use them across many types of cancer," explains Dr. Calum MacAulay, senior scientist at the BC Cancer Agency. "With oral cancer, the advantage is that you can see it early in the natural history of the disease with a technology that has been validated in other cancer sites."

"This grant will be bring visionary technology to our new Oral Cancer Prevention Program, creating a unique partnership that will bring improved oral health care to the people of BC" stated Dr. Rosin, Director of the Program. 

The findings are among the first steps in designing and implementing an imaging based screening program that dentists and oral hygiene professionals can use to make first-line decisions about early stage biopsies and referrals for anti-cancer related care. 

British Columbia is an excellent environment for developing a model to screen and identify high risk lesions among dental patients. Ninety percent of the province's residents see a dentist at least once every two years. Approximately 2,500 dentists in British Columbia form a potential province -wide screening network that will forward high risk patients to special care facilities.

The BC Cancer Agency, a part of the Provincial Health Services Authority, is committed to reducing the incidence of cancer, reducing the mortality from cancer, and improving the quality of life of those living with cancer. It provides a comprehensive cancer control program for the people of British Columbia by working with community partners to deliver a range of oncology services, including prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment, research, education, supportive care, rehabilitation and palliative care. The BC Cancer Foundation supports research at the BC Cancer Research Centre.

For more information, or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Nicole Adams
Public Relations
BC Cancer Agency
Ph: 604.877.6272
Pager: 604.641.5167