Cutting-edge equipment, funded by ACT supporters, has dramatically improved the five-year survival rates of cancer patients – winning multiple awards for Addenbrooke’s at this year’s prestigious Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) Awards.
Four out of a total of five awards – including overall Biomedical Science Champion – went to the Histopathology teams at Addenbrooke’s. Histopathology, which is the study of diseased tissue, is vital in diagnosing and enabling faster treatment for patients with serious diseases, including cancer.
Thanks to funding from ACT supporters, the department was able to invest in two lymph node scanners which use infrared light to help identify lymph nodes in tissue samples, helping clinicians to understand whether the cancer has spread and whether further treatments such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy are needed.
The Histopathology lab at Addenbrooke’s receives more than 80,000 tissue samples each year and provides local, national and international services.
Previous to the scanners, clinicians within the department relied on a manual process to identify lymph nodes. However, they are hard to find using this more traditional approach and a sufficient ‘yield’ or amount of lymph nodes are needed in order to provide an accurate diagnosis.
The lymph node scanners, however, use a short-wave infrared imaging system which instantly identifies lymph nodes in a tissue sample – thereby improving diagnosis and outcome for cancer patients.
Thanking supporters of the hospital charity, Paul White, Director of Communications and Impact at ACT, said:
“Thanks to our supporters, ACT funds a huge range of amazing projects right across Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie, everything from groundbreaking research to cutting-edge equipment and specialist services. While some things, like the surgical robot, cause a big splash because they capture the public’s imagination, others have just as big an impact but in a humbler way and the lymph node scanners are the perfect example of this.”
“In histopathology, lymph nodes are often used to diagnose cancer and work out the best treatment options for patients, with samples coming in from all across the UK. Prior to having the scanners, clinicians would look for lymph nodes manually. However, they are hard to find and are often lost within fat, making it hard to collect sufficient numbers for an accurate diagnosis. These scanners use an infrared light which when shone on the tissue sample locate the lymph nodes instantly. They still have to be cut out – but it saves having to go back and do more samples if the first yield isn’t sufficient.”
“These scanners have transformed the way clinicians look for cancer in the lymph nodes. Collecting more lymph nodes is associated with an increase in five-year survival rates of up to 28%. What's more, higher lymph node yields lead to more accurate prognosis. By helping clinicians find more of these lymph nodes, the scanners are improving treatment decisions and helping to achieve better outcomes for patients.”
"It's the perfect example of where our supporters and Addenbrooke's hospital come together to deliver something greater than the sum of our parts to save and change lives."
Pathology teams at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH), took home five awards at the IBMS Awards, with four of the awards going to Histopathology.
The successes follow the relocation of the lab, which employs more than 200 people, into a new facility on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, creating a fit-for-the-future service using the latest technologies, automation and placing an increased emphasis on sustainability.
Histopathology teams were awarded the overall Biomedical Science Champion and Best Use of Innovation or Technology awards to recognise their work with the new scanners.
Judges said: “This technology has proven a significant, positive impact on prognostic accuracy. Therefore, it has clearly improved practice, enhanced patient care and led to favourable patient outcomes.”
The award was jointly collected by Refaie Rassool and James Neal, advanced practitioners in histopathology at CUH.
Refaie said: “I’m delighted to win these awards and grateful to Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust for supporting us to bring this innovation to patients. With this technology we can find and analyse more lymph nodes after cancer surgery allowing us to more accurately assess cancer spread to inform further treatment. This means greater certainty and better outcomes for our patients.”
Histopathology also won Team of the Year and Sustainability, recognising success across the team in moving rapidly and effectively into the new facility and working collaboratively with engineers and suppliers to reduce waste, water use and carbon emissions.
Judges praised the approach the team used to improve lab efficiency, and the ‘immediate, tangible environmental, safety and operational impact’ of the changes made by the team.
Members of the histopathology and genetics labs also recently won the Royal College of Pathologists sustainability award.
Dr Michael Eden, histopathology clinical lead at CUH, said: “I’m enormously proud of the whole team. It’s hard to understate their achievements over the last year. Consolidating our laboratories into one new location, delivering new processes and ways of working, all while continuing to deliver a crucial clinical service, has been a huge challenge.
We now have a facility that is ready to support the growing needs of our patients, and that will support new developments in the region, including the future Cambridge Children’s and Cancer Research Hospitals.”
Dr Lizz Grimwade, Lead Healthcare Scientist at CUH, said: “Congratulations to the all the winners. These awards are well-deserved recognition of the outstanding service provided by our teams and the vital role they play in the care of patients both here in Cambridge and across the wider region.”
ACT is the official charity for Addenbrooke’s and funds cutting-edge equipment, specialist staff, extra comforts and vital research above and beyond what the NHS is able to provide and is raising money to help build both the Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital and the Cambridge Children’s Hospital.
Click here to donate.
