Raman spectroscopy and autofluorescence imaging in gastrointestinal tract

ISRCTN ISRCTN15587241
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN15587241
Secondary identifying numbers N/A
Submission date
17/06/2015
Registration date
23/06/2015
Last edited
10/07/2023
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Digestive System
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Conventional diagnostic and screening tools such as white-light endoscopy have significant limitations for examining upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract lesions due to their poor diagnostic sensitivity. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of a new endoscopic imaging technique to complement white-light endoscopy for non-invasive diagnosis of such lesions. A novel NIR autofluorescence spectroscopy and imaging system associated with Raman spectroscopy allow a larger sample of body tissue to be probed beyond the tissue surface. This has the added benefit of minimizing concerns regarding tissue damage during examinations. Through this study, the clinical significance of this research can be a new diagnostic tool that may have significant potential for the non-invasive diagnosis of upper GI lesions. It may also serve as a tool for guiding and directing biopsies for histopathological investigations, reducing the number of negative biopsies, increasing the number of diagnoses, and reducing the medical costs for the patients.

Who can participate?
Adult patients undergoing endoscopy for suspected or known GI lesions.

What does the study involve?
The patients are first given a mild sedative as used in routine gastroscopic examinations. The upper GI tract is carefully inspected under white light endoscopy. White light endoscopic findings based on tissue morphology are documented. Observation of the mucosa (inner lining of the GI tract) morphology are classified as normal mucosa, nonspecific inflammatory mucosa or abnormal mucosa. If any tissues are suspected abnormal by the endoscopist in charge, NIR excitation light is shined on the suspicious tissue sites indicated by the white light endoscopy to excite both autofluorescence endoscopic imaging and Raman spectroscopy. NIR autofluorescence and Raman signals are documented for each lesion examined. In addition, one biopsy is taken from each lesion identified and submitted for histopathology reporting (gold standard). In the event that no lesions are detected, one biopsy from the GI tract is taken as control. Patients are only examined once in the study. No tissue samples are stored.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The laser power used in this study is less than the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) maximum permissible skin exposure limit, and the NIR autofluorescence and Raman signal collection will be finished in a few seconds. There is no risk for the patients.

Where is the study run from?
Endoscope Center at the National University Health System (Singapore)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
June 2010 to June 2020

Who is funding the study?
1. National Medical Research Council (Singapore)
2. National Research Foundation-Prime Minister's office (Singapore)
3. Ministry of Education (Singapore)

Who is the main contact?
1. Professor Khek Yu Ho (public)
mdchoky@nus.edu.sg
2. Associate Professor Zhiwei Huang (scientific)
biehzw@nus.edu.sg

Contact information

Dr Khek Yu Ho
Public

Department of Medicine
National University Hospital, Singapore
Singapore
119228
Singapore

Phone (65) 67724353
Email mdchoky@nus.edu.sg
Dr Zhiwei Huang
Scientific

Department of Biomedical Engineering
National University of Singapore, Singapore
Singapore
117575
Singapore

Phone (65) 65168856
Email biehzw@nus.edu.sg

Study information

Study designThis is a prospective study for the development of a novel, more sensitive and superior NIR ] autofluorescence endoscopic imaging system in combination with Raman spectroscopy technique for the in vivo diagnosis of GI lesions in patients.
Primary study designObservational
Secondary study design
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeDiagnostic
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use contact details to request a participant information sheet
Scientific titleDevelopment of near-infrared Raman and autofluorescence imaging endoscopy for optical diagnosis of lesions in gastrointestinal tracts
Study objectivesThe hypothesis of this study is that combining the near-infrared (NIR) Raman spectroscopy with NIR autofluorescence imaging has the potential to improve early detection and diagnosis of gastrointestinal cancer and early cancer during clinical endoscopic examination.

The aims of this study are:
1. To develop a novel NIR autofluorescence endoscopic imaging system in combination with Raman spectroscopy technique for effective in vivo tissue diagnosis in the GI tract
2. To investigate the ability of native tissue fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy under NIR excitation light to differentiate lesions from normal tissues in the GI tract
3. To determine if the NIR autofluorescence/reflectance imaging technique can be used to make in vivo diagnosis of upper GI lesions
Ethics approval(s)Domain Specific Review Board (DSRB), National Health Group, Singapore, 24/06/2010, ref: DSRB ref B/05/010
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedGastrointestinal (GI) lesions
InterventionPatients will first be administered a mild sedative as used in conventional gastroscopic examinations. The upper GI tract will be carefully inspected under white light endoscopy. White light endoscopic findings based on tissue morphology will be documented. Observation of the mucosa morphology will be classified as normal mucosa, nonspecific inflammatory mucosa or abnormal mucosa. Autofluorescence endoscopic imaging and Raman spectroscopy under near-infrared (NIR) excitation light will then be carried out on the same tissue sites. NIR autofluorescence and Raman signals will be documented for each specific lesion examined. In addition, one biopsy will be taken from each lesion identified and submitted for histopathology reporting (gold standard). In the event that no lesions are detected, one biopsy from the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract will be taken as control. Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of NIR autofluorescence endoscopic imaging and Raman spectroscopy will be documented. Patients will only be examined once in the study. No tissue samples will be stored.
Intervention typeDevice
Pharmaceutical study type(s)
PhaseNot Applicable
Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s)-
Primary outcome measureDiagnostic sensitivity and specificity of near-infrared autofluorescence imaging and/or Raman spectroscopy for upper gastrointestinal (GI) lesions
Secondary outcome measuresPredicative sensitivity and specificity of near-infrared autofluorescence imaging and/or Raman spectroscopy for upper gastrointestinal (GI) lesions
Overall study start date25/06/2010
Completion date24/06/2020

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
SexBoth
Target number of participants400
Key inclusion criteria1. The subject is undergoing endoscopy for suspected or known GI lesions such as peptic ulcer, gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia, gastric cancer, reflux oesophagitis, Barrett’s oesophagus or oesophageal cancer
2. The subject must have personally signed and dated the patient informed consent form indicating that he/she has been informed of all pertinent aspects of the study
3. The subject must be willing and able to comply with all study procedures
Key exclusion criteria1. The subject who has bleeding disorders, such as haemophilia, in whom biopsies are contraindicated
2. The subject with liver cirrhosis
3. The subject with severe co-morbid illness, such as end-stage renal failure (ESRF), congestive cardiac failure (CCF), severe osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) requiring long term non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) therapy
4. The subject has other severe acute or chronic medical or psychiatric condition or laboratory abnormality that may interfere with the interpretation of study results and in the judgment of the investigator would make the subject unsuitable for entry into the study
5. The subject on regular anti-coagulant prophylaxis such as warfarin must be able to undergo a five-day washout period before gastroscopy. The subject on aspirin, ticlopidine and clopidogrel must be able to undergo a one-week washout period before gastroscopy. The subject’s physician or study co-investigator will exercise their clinical judgement to ensure subject’s safety
6. The subject is unwilling or unable to provide signed informed consent
Date of first enrolment25/06/2010
Date of final enrolment24/06/2015

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Singapore

Study participating centre

Endoscope Center at the National University Health System
-
Singapore

Sponsor information

National Medical Research Council
Research council

The National Medical Research Council (NMRC)
11 Biopolis Way
-
138667
Singapore

Website http://www.nmrc.gov.sg/content/nmrc_internet/home.html
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/04x3cxs03
National Research Foundation-Proof-of-Concept
Government

1 Create Way
#12-02 Create Tower
-
138602
Singapore

Academic Research Fund from Ministry of Education
Government

1 North Buona Vista Drive
-
138675
Singapore

Funders

Funder type

Government

National Medical Research Council
Government organisation / National government
Alternative name(s)
National Medical Research Council (NMRC) Singapore, NMRC
Location
Singapore
National Research Foundation-Prime Minister's office, Republic of Singapore
Government organisation / National government
Alternative name(s)
National Research Foundation-Prime Minister's office, Republic of Singapore, Singapore National Research Foundation, National Research Foundation of Singapore, National Research Foundation, Singapore, National Research Foundation, Singapore (NRF), nrfsg, NRF Singapore, NRF
Location
Singapore
Ministry of Education - Singapore
Government organisation / National government
Alternative name(s)
Ministry of Education, Ministry of Education (Singapore), MOE Singapore, Ministry of Education, Singapore, MOE
Location
Singapore

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot expected to be made available
Publication and dissemination plan1. The diagnostic and predictive accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of Raman spectroscopy for the diagnosis of upper GI lesions will be analyzed and published
2. The diagnosis yield of Raman spectroscopy will be evaluated and compared with the routinely used endoscopic examinations techniques
3. The diagnostic and predictive accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of NIR autofluorescence imaging for the diagnosis of upper GI lesions will be analyzed and published
4. The diagnosis yield of NIR autofluorescence imaging will be evaluated and compared with the routinely used endoscopic examinations techniques
5. The diagnostic and predictive accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of NIR autofluorescence imaging combined with Raman spectroscopy for the diagnosis of upper GI lesions will be analyzed and published
6. The diagnosis yield of NIR autofluorescence imaging combined with Raman spectroscopy will be evaluated and compared with the routinely used endoscopic examinations techniques
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article 05/08/2015 10/07/2023 Yes No

Editorial Notes

10/07/2023: Publication reference added.