Preventing Cervical Cancer and FGS in the Developing World with QCELL’s Technology

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Cervical Cancer and FGS Screening Technology for the Developing World

QCELL has invented and develops a novel hand-held spectral imager to improve women’s health and safety in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)

QCELL has developed a hand-held, tablet/mobile phone connectable, video rate, machine learning-powered spectral imager, positioned to become the new cost/effective screening technology in LMICs.

The new technology is abbreviated as SAVE (Spectral Artificial Vision Examiner) and it is a novel, low-cost, hand-held imaging spectroscopy-based colposcope, integrating the most advanced spectral imaging and machine learning technologies. This novel imaging technology is intended to comprise a versatile, easy to use screening tool, capable of identifying Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN) and Female Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS), instantly and non-invasively.

The SAVE technology is currently clinically validated in an international, multicenter clinical trial, enrolling several hundreds of women in South Africa, Eswatini and Mozambique. The clinical study in funded by the European Union HORIZON, Program 101057853: “Dual screening by Spectral Artificial Visual Examination (SAVE) for Female Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS) and cervical cancer. Digital, new, low-cost, and simple screening and training” (https://fgsnomore.org/).

Why Spectral SAVE screening technology?

Healthcare Challenges in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

In the low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), representing the 75% of the global population, only 19% percent of patients have access to appropriate diagnostics at the primary health care level (www.path.org).

In 2020, out of nearly 10 million cancer-related deaths worldwide, 70% were in low-and-middle-income countries. The disparity is even more striking in case of cervical cancer where 90% of new cases and deaths from this preventable cancer occurs in low- and middle-income countries (www.cancer.org)

World income map (left) and global cervical cancer incidence map (right) (Source: WHO). Low-medium income clearly overlap with high cervical cancer incidence. Sub-Saharan Africa, had the highest incidence rates for cervical cancer in 2022.

Bridging Global Healthcare Inequalities with QCELL’s Low Cost, High-End, Spectral Artificial Vision Examiner (SAVE)

SAVE screening technology design was based on the 30 years long pioneering work of QCELL’s founder and his team on the in vivo measurement and the in silico modeling and spectral analysis of cervical neoplasia. The SAVE instrument operates in three imaging modes:

Dynamic Spectral Imaging for the quantitative mapping of the acetowhitening degree end extend.
Real-time spectral mapping for measuring the uptake of Lugol’s Iodine.
FGS pathology mapping for measuring the characteristic spectral signatures of FGS.

SAVE is a calibrated technology and its output data are quantitative, objective and reproducible, regardless user’s skills. Its operation is simple, fully automated and can be used by both nurses and physicians in both office and field screening settings. The SAVE device is field deployable, since it is battery operated and can be carried in a bag anywhere by a single person.

The DUAL SAVE EU Funded Horizon Project

Aim and ambition

To reform current diagnostic and screening practices for Cervical Cancer and Female Genital Schistosomiasis, train health professionals, and adapt spectral imaging technology for improved precision, accessibility and acceptability.

To substantially reduce morbidity and mortality associated with Female Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS) and cervical cancer by deploying SAVE technology and training in the diagnosis and screening of women in schistosomiasis and cervical cancer endemic countries.

Left: QCELL’s Founder, professor Costas Balas (middle) and right: QCELL’s chief engineer Chris Rossos presenting SAVE technology Dual-SAVE consortium members, in Bright Academy, Durban South Africa, June 2024.

Target Pathologies

Female Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS) is a previously neglected genital illness caused by the Schistosoma haematobium worm. Three hundred million girls and women are at risk and it is estimated that 56 million girls and women in sub-Saharan Africa have FGS. FGS is a poverty related, water-transmitted parasitic disease.

Cervical cancer (CC) is the fourth most frequent cancer worldwide, in women with an estimated 604.000 new cases in 2020. The main cause of CC is the persistent infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), the most common sexually transmitted infection worldwide, which affects an estimated 50–80% of sexually active women at least once in their lifetime

Clinicians often mistake FGS for cervical cancer, which may lead to over-/under-treatment. SAVE technology is set to identify cervical (pre-)cancer and FGS, instantly, non-invasively and without being in contact with the patient.

Partners

DUALSAVE-FGS is a partnership of nine African and European institutions. QCELL is honored to be engaged as a partner with esteemed organizations and individuals, sharing the same dedication for fighting Female Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS) and Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia and improving the lives of those affected. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our partners for their invaluable support, expertise, and dedication in advancing and establishing our SAVE imaging technology.