Gamma Medica-Ideas and Mayo Clinic Collaborate on New Breast Cancer Research Project
Los Angeles, CA, November 23, 2007 --(PR.com)-- Gamma Medica-Ideas Inc. (GM-I), the world leader in developing and delivering digital medical imaging devices for the pre-clinical and clinical markets, has announced its collaboration with Mayo Clinic in an important, new breast cancer research project.
The main goal of the project, funded by a $1.8 million National Cancer Institute grant, is to document the advantages of using GM-I’s LumaGEM dual-headed Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI) technology for the early detection, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Additionally, researchers hope to prove LumaGEM’s capabilities in breast cancer staging, therapy planning, monitoring and follow-up. The LumaGEM MBI system offers significant advances in resolution and contrast, which has allowed for identification of millimeter sized breast cancers missed by mammography, especially in women with dense breast tissue. The clinical trial will validate promising preliminary findings, and also evaluate MBI performance in other cases of known or suspected breast cancer.
The two-phase collaborative project will enroll approximately 500 patients. Project researchers will use the LumaGEM MBI imager to non-invasively define the characteristics of a patient’s breast cancer cells at a molecular level by using established and novel radioactive markers. During Phase I, a dual-headed CZT LumaGEM will be installed at Mayo Clinic. In phase II, an additional LumaGEM system will be installed at Cedars-Sinai (Los Angeles, CA). Dr. Iraj Khalkhali (Los Angeles, CA) will take delivery of yet another LumaGEM. The patient studies will be conducted with all three systems to compare the diagnostic capabilities of this device to Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Mayo Clinic will subsequently evaluate promising new radiopharmaceuticals for the detection of breast cancer. Finally, Cedars-Sinai will conduct a study demonstrating the dual-isotope capability of this system and compare the diagnostic potential of both isotopes.
Gamma Medica-Ideas’ LumaGEM is a dedicated gamma camera used for diagnostic imaging, including Molecular Breast Imaging. The LumaGEM system features fully solid state digital detection utilizing eV Products™ Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CZT) to provide superior resolution compared with the conventional scintillation camera technology traditionally used in gamma cameras. It also allows minimal dead space at the edges of the image, permitting the closest access to the chest wall. LumaGEM provides unparalleled resolution, and is designed for optimal use with molecular imaging pharmaceuticals such as Sestamibi and similar agents that localize in neovascular structures for breast cancer detection.
About Gamma Medica-Ideas, Inc.
Gamma Medica-Ideas (GM-I) designs, builds and services imaging systems based on novel technologies to improve patient health through early diagnosis of disease, improved patient treatment and by enabling new drug discovery. GM-I is dedicated to leading medical imaging into a new digital era with its unique sensor readout systems. The company’s core digital imaging technologies also hold great promise for a new class of solutions for the safety and security markets. In the pre-clinical space, GM-I’s FLEX Triumph™ imaging platform is marketed for medical research and drug development. The FLEX Triumph system combines PET (X-PET™ or its new fully digital LabPET™), SPECT (X-SPECT®) and CT (X-O™) modalities in the world’s first tri-modality system. In the clinical space, GM-I offers LumaGEM®, its dual-headed Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI) based system for early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. The digital gamma ray imaging technology in LumaGEM offers significant advances in resolution and contrast which has allowed for identification of millimeter sized breast cancers missed by mammography, especially in women with dense breast tissue.
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The main goal of the project, funded by a $1.8 million National Cancer Institute grant, is to document the advantages of using GM-I’s LumaGEM dual-headed Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI) technology for the early detection, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Additionally, researchers hope to prove LumaGEM’s capabilities in breast cancer staging, therapy planning, monitoring and follow-up. The LumaGEM MBI system offers significant advances in resolution and contrast, which has allowed for identification of millimeter sized breast cancers missed by mammography, especially in women with dense breast tissue. The clinical trial will validate promising preliminary findings, and also evaluate MBI performance in other cases of known or suspected breast cancer.
The two-phase collaborative project will enroll approximately 500 patients. Project researchers will use the LumaGEM MBI imager to non-invasively define the characteristics of a patient’s breast cancer cells at a molecular level by using established and novel radioactive markers. During Phase I, a dual-headed CZT LumaGEM will be installed at Mayo Clinic. In phase II, an additional LumaGEM system will be installed at Cedars-Sinai (Los Angeles, CA). Dr. Iraj Khalkhali (Los Angeles, CA) will take delivery of yet another LumaGEM. The patient studies will be conducted with all three systems to compare the diagnostic capabilities of this device to Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Mayo Clinic will subsequently evaluate promising new radiopharmaceuticals for the detection of breast cancer. Finally, Cedars-Sinai will conduct a study demonstrating the dual-isotope capability of this system and compare the diagnostic potential of both isotopes.
Gamma Medica-Ideas’ LumaGEM is a dedicated gamma camera used for diagnostic imaging, including Molecular Breast Imaging. The LumaGEM system features fully solid state digital detection utilizing eV Products™ Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CZT) to provide superior resolution compared with the conventional scintillation camera technology traditionally used in gamma cameras. It also allows minimal dead space at the edges of the image, permitting the closest access to the chest wall. LumaGEM provides unparalleled resolution, and is designed for optimal use with molecular imaging pharmaceuticals such as Sestamibi and similar agents that localize in neovascular structures for breast cancer detection.
About Gamma Medica-Ideas, Inc.
Gamma Medica-Ideas (GM-I) designs, builds and services imaging systems based on novel technologies to improve patient health through early diagnosis of disease, improved patient treatment and by enabling new drug discovery. GM-I is dedicated to leading medical imaging into a new digital era with its unique sensor readout systems. The company’s core digital imaging technologies also hold great promise for a new class of solutions for the safety and security markets. In the pre-clinical space, GM-I’s FLEX Triumph™ imaging platform is marketed for medical research and drug development. The FLEX Triumph system combines PET (X-PET™ or its new fully digital LabPET™), SPECT (X-SPECT®) and CT (X-O™) modalities in the world’s first tri-modality system. In the clinical space, GM-I offers LumaGEM®, its dual-headed Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI) based system for early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. The digital gamma ray imaging technology in LumaGEM offers significant advances in resolution and contrast which has allowed for identification of millimeter sized breast cancers missed by mammography, especially in women with dense breast tissue.
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Contact
Gamma Medica-Ideas
Marie-France Lamoureux
819-212-4422
www.gm-ideas.com
Marie-France Lamoureux
819-212-4422
www.gm-ideas.com
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