NanoEcho is developing a system that intends to improve the diagnosis of rectal cancer spread to nearby lymph nodes, an important marker of cancer progression. Since 2021, there has been an ongoing investigator-led clinical development study on resected rectal cancer tissue at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg. Now an investigator-led study has also started at Skåne University Hospital (SUS) in Malmö. Using NanoEcho's system, these developmental studies aim to examine rectal cancer at different stages and located anywhere in the rectum.

The first patient at SUS in Malmö has been recruited and the first examination was carried out with the company's diagnostic prototype system on 3rd November. The study, which will include approximately 40 rectal cancer patients, is lead by Henrik Thorlacius, surgery professor at Lund University and Chief Physician in surgery at Scania University Hospital in Malmö. Patients will undergo usual routine standard surgery and the tissue removed during surgery will be examined with NanoEcho's system before being submitted for pathological analysis.

“We hope that NanoEcho´s instrument can identify lymph nodes containing cancer cells, which could improve the diagnosis of rectal cancer. If we can, we will proceed with further clinical studies whereby NanoEcho's instrument will be evaluated on patients before surgery”, says Henrik Thorlacius.

“Starting now these two investigator-led clinical development studies represents a major milestone. The goal is that together they will provide a comprehensive analysis of the system's performance and contribute important information to the product development of our commercial system”, says Linda Persson CEO of NanoEcho.

Link to a film where Henrik Thorlacius explains more about the investigator-led clinical development study.