KINGSTON, Ont. A team of Canadian neurosurgeon-scientists at Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) and Queen’s University has developed a world-first tool that could significantly advance research on glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive types of brain cancer.
The innovation: a 3D-printed surgical biopsy capsule that enables surgeons to systematically collect dozens of tissue samples from different parts of a tumour during surgery. Each sample can be precisely linked to an MRI image, allowing researchers to map the molecular makeup of distinct tumour regions.
Dr. Teresa Purzner, a neurosurgeon-scientist, says traditional biopsy methods often rely on just a few random fragments from the tumour a process she compares to studying “an elephant using only snapshots of its toenail, trunk or ear.”
With the new capsule, researchers can create a detailed “map” of how the tumour grows and spreads, which could help identify regions that are likely to recur next. That in turn could guide more targeted radiation or smarter surgical removal.
Kingston is currently the only hospital in the world using this device in the operating room. The team is also working to build a tissue bank, where samples from patients across Canada could be stored laying the foundation for large-scale research and future therapies.
Dr. Steven Smith, President & CEO of the KHSC Research Institute, said the project “beautifully illustrates what is possible when clinical care and cutting-edge research converge.”
What This Means for Patients
- Better mapping of tumour biology could lead to more tailored treatments, reducing side effects and improving effectiveness.
- The technology may help identify high-risk regions within tumours those more likely to recur enabling proactive therapeutic strategies.
- By building a large tissue-sample database, Canadian researchers are positioning themselves as global leaders in glioblastoma research.
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