An EU-funded initiative, this project will provide surgeons with a fast, real-time tool for accurate tumor margin assessment, using innovative optical techniques and AI to enhance surgical precision and improve patient outcomes.
Clinical overview
Breast-conserving surgery aims to remove cancerous tissue while preserving healthy breast tissue. However, incomplete tumor removal occurs in about 20% of cases, leading to additional surgeries, increased healthcare costs, and emotional and physical stress for patients. Current margin assessment methods are slow, subjective, and not always accurate. There is a critical need for a fast, reliable, and objective solution to guide surgeons during operations and ensure complete tumor removal.
Innovation
SpectraBREAST introduces an innovative, multimodal technology that combines Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI), fiber-optic Raman Spectroscopy (RS), and advanced AI algorithms. This integrated system will provide real-time, high-accuracy feedback on tumor margins within a few minutes, helping surgeons identify and remove residual cancerous tissue during the initial surgery. This solution aims to significantly reduce reoperations, improve patient outcomes, and lower healthcare costs
On 21 July 2026, SpectraBREAST launched its webinar series with Theo Ruers, surgical oncologist at the Netherlands Cancer Institute, and his talk How Technology May Transform Surgery. The hybrid event was hosted at the Department of Physics of Politecnico di Milano and attended both in person and online. It was a great pleasure to welcome Theo Ruers to Milan and
A new publication from the Spectra-BREAST project on making biomedical Raman data FAIR has recently been published as a preprint on ChemRxiv, a leading preprint platform for chemistry. To address the challenge of managing the Raman data generated within the project and making them AI-ready, the Nanomedicine Laboratory at ICS Maugeri developed a data format that includes not only the
On Wednesday, 10 June 2026, the Spectra-BREAST consortium gathered in Milan for an in-person project meeting marking Month 18 of the project. The meeting brought together around 15 participants from across the consortium, including senior researchers, technical teams, as well as Master’s and PhD students who are actively contributing to the project’s scientific and technological development. The in-person format provided
Nashville, Tennessee, USA — May 2026 The Spectra-BREAST project was proudly represented at SPEC 2026, the 14th International Conference on Clinical Vibrational Spectroscopy, held at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, from 16 to 20 May 2026. The conference brought together leading researchers, clinicians, industry representatives and innovators working at the interface of vibrational spectroscopy, biophotonics and clinical translation. Under the
In a recent interview with DEEPSYNC, the heart of European scientific innovation within the EIC Communities project, Carlo Morasso, the coordinator of the Spectra-BREAST project, shared his insights on the impact and challenges of the initiative, which aims to transform breast cancer surgery. Morasso, Head of Laboratory at Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri (ICS Maugeri), emphasized the critical need the project
We are pleased to announce the publication of the second part of our study, exploring the impact of localization techniques on positive margin status in breast-conserving surgery (BCS) for non-palpable lesions. This study, part of the Spectra-BREAST project, has provided valuable insights into how surgeon seniority affects surgical outcomes. Key Findings: A standout conclusion from the research is that surgeon