SPECTRA-BREAST

Transforming Breast-Conserving Surgery with Near Real-Time Tumour Margin Assessment

Each year, thousands of women diagnosed with breast cancer undergo breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy) to remove the tumour while preserving healthy breast tissue. However, determining whether the cancer has been fully excised still relies on post-operative analysis, delaying recovery and adding emotional and financial burdens for patients and healthcare systems.

With support from the European Innovation Council, the Spectra-BREAST project aims to revolutionise how surgeons identify tumour margins during breast cancer surgery. By integrating hyperspectral imaging, Raman spectroscopy, and AI, the project is developing a device that provides surgeons with near real-time feedback on the potential presence of cancerous cells at the margin of the excised tumour.

This breakthrough will enable surgeons to act more precisely, reducing reoperation rates, improving outcomes, and lowering costs.
With its multidisciplinary European consortium comprising clinical, academic, and industrial partners, Spectra-BREAST brings together world-class expertise in surgical practice, optical spectroscopy, and artificial intelligence to develop a scalable solution with low operating costs and significant impact potential in cancer care.