Bio-photonics analysis of biological tissues for in-vivo robot assisted gastric cancer diagnosis

Gastric Cancer is the fifth most common malignancy in the world and third leading cause of death. It has claimed 865,000 lives worldwide in 2017, 12 lives/day in the UK (2016-2018). According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, 89% of all cases are attributed to infection from Helicobacter Pylori (Hp). Hp (a class 1 carcinogen) produces an enzyme called 'urease' which silences the immune system of the stomach against Hp and results in the formation of a gastric ulcer which grows into a cancerous tumor. Patients spend £500-£1400 for a standard 2-week triple-drug therapy. Such high costs in the low and middle-income country is a burden where 33 million individuals face catastrophic health expenses and cancer takes their toll at the cost of human life. The 5-year survival rate post-diagnosis of gastric cancer is only 20%, which is bigger than any financial loss. The aim of this project is to develop a robot assisted bio photonic medical device for early detection of gastric cancer.

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