Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer using Thermal Therapies

New research is being conducted in the diagnosis and new treatments of cancer that has high efficacy and are minimally invasiveness. Artificial intelligence, bioimpedance, thermal images and nanomaterials have been used to provide early diagnosis. New treatments based on the generation of microwaves, radiofrequency, or ultrasound have been proposed in the last couple of decades. Although thermotherapies have been shown to be efficient, for them to be considered as a primary treatment, they must overcome some hurdles. One of the main challenges is to ensure applicators that point the electromagnetic or the mechanical waves at a tumor, don't affect the surrounding healthy tissues. In some cases, nanoparticles have also been designed to achieve better focus. The design of new applicators can be made by computational models based on methods such as the finite element. However, to efficiently predict the applicator's performance, it is important that dielectric, thermal, and acoustic properties (tissue characterization) are included in the models. Not only healthy tissue, but also tumors must be characterized. Patient specific treatment planning, which consists of a 3D patient model based on medical images, can be developed to implement a safety treatment. Moreover, tissue properties as well as the applicator must be defined. Parameters such as temperature increase, and heat pattern must be evaluated to ensure patient safety and treatment success.

Citlalli Jessica Trujillo-Romero received a Ph.D. in Bioelectronics in 2012 from CINVESTAV-IPN. She is a Researcher in Medical Sciences at the National Institute of Rehabilitation-LGII in Mexico City. She is author of peer-reviewed manuscripts, book chapters and patents. She is associated editor of the Mexican Journal of Biomedical Engineering. Her research topics include the medical use of EM radiations and modeling of biomedical systems Dora-Luz Flores is a professor at the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California. She has coauthored over 30 peer-reviewed manuscripts and six book chapters. Her current research interest focuses on the artificial intelligence applied to biological systems, simulation of complex systems, and computational biology. She is the Editor-in-chief of the Mexican Journal of Biomedical Engineering. She is member of the International Science Council.

Main Problems in Cancer Diagnosis and Treatments. Bioimpedance and Cancer Detection. Thermal Images: Towards Cancer Detection. Artificial Intelligence and Cancer Detection. Hyperspectral Imaging for Cancer Applications. Oral Cancer Detection by Multi-Spectral Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (M-FLIM) And Linear Unmixing. Thermotherapies Based On Microwaves (MW) And Radiofrequency (RF). Thermotherapies Based On Ultrasound. Biological Effects of Thermal Therapies (EM Waves and Mechanical Waves). Photothermal Techniques in Cancer Detection- Photoacoustic Imaging. Tissue Characterization for Microwave and Ultrasonic Applications. Nanotheranostics in Cancer. Magneto Hyperthermia.