The Canadian Light Source on University of Saskatchewan Campus is the only Synchrotron facility in Canada. The Synchrotron is a particle accelerator that generates extremely intense light. Photons are emitted when the linear path of electrons (generated by a linear accelerator) are bent by powerful magnets into a circular (in booster and storage rings) synchronous orbit close to the speed of light. When electrons are manipulated in this manner, they lose energy by emitting electromagnetic radiation in the form of photons - manifest as an extremely bright light, many times brighter than the sun. This photon light energy spans the spectrum of electro-magnetic radiation from infrared light to "hard" X rays, and can be made highly monochromatic. The very intense and precise photon light beam can be siphoned off tangentially from the storage ring into linear conduits, called beamlines. Highly monochromatic, narrow, and focused Synchrotron light beams are used to study the structure of any material, including cells and tissues, at the molecular level, with greater precision and accuracy than ever possible before.

The application of Synchrotron light for translational cancer research falls into two main categories: diagnostic and therapeutic. In the diagnostic domain, a feasibility study using Synchrotron mid-infrared microspectroscopy to differentiate brain tumor cells from their normal counterparts has been performed by our research team. As a therapeutic tool, Synchrotron microbeam radiation therapy has ben shown in animal models to destroy malignant brain tumor cells while sparing adjacent normal brain tissue. Our present long term goal is to apply the diagnostic information obtained from Synchrotron infrared microscopy to the therapeutic application of Synchrotron microbeam radiation therapy, the latter modality reprtedly having the advantage of destroying malignant brain tumor cells while sparing normal brain cells and connective tissue, thereby avoiding necrosis and maintaining the architectural integrity of the brain.

The Synchrotron Interest Group of the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency is composed of a multidisciplinary group of professionals representing the spectrum of specialties involved in cancer research, diagnosis and therapy at the Saskatoon Cancer Centre and Allan Blair Cancer Center. It is open to all staff of the Cancer Agency. For a list of current membership, contact Dr. Kaiser Ali at the Saskatoon Cancer Centre.