ENT Research

The department remains very active in researching ENT diseases themselves, and also more effective methods of treatment. Below are listed several areas of major research ongoing at Children's Otolaryngology Department. A special thank you goes to the Carls Foundation, whose generous contributions have sponsored some of this work.

• Cholesteatoma
   
  
• Head and Neck Cancer
   
  
• Robotic-Assisted Endoscopic Surgery
   
  
• Raman-Spectroscopy
   
  
• Sound Analysis of the Pediatric Airway
   
  

Cholesteatoma: Two characteristics of cholesteatoma cells are responsible for the severe damage caused by cholesteatoma - cell migration, and bone destruction. Our laboratory is one of the few in the world that has successfully grown human cholesteatoma cells in tissue culture to investigate these 2 cell behaviors. We have determined that a specific kinase pathway mediates both of these behaviors - cell migration, and production of the enzymes that destroy bone and other tissues. We are currently in the process of manipulating elements of this pathway (specific inhibitors, and gene therapy) to control the migration and production of these enzymes by cholesteatoma.             [return to index]

Head and neck cancer: Many of the abnormal features of abnormal cholesteatoma cells are shared by head and neck cancer cells. For examples, we are investigating the abnormal migration of cancer cells, and the production of tissue-degrading enzymes by these cancer cells. As with cholesteatoma cells, these 2 cell behaviors appear related, and depend on similar cellular signals. Preliminary results suggest that both migration and production of these enzymes are regulated in a similar manner by both cholesteatoma and by these cancer cells. We are currently investigating specific inhibitors of the molecular and cellular pathways that regulate migration and enzyme production. Preliminary results suggest that we may be able to inhibit these processes, and thereby inhibit the growth and metastasis of these cancers.             [return to index]

In addition, our Department is pursuing several lines of clinical investigation:

Robotic-Assisted Endoscopic Surgery. Children's Hospital of Michigan is pioneering the clinical application of Computer-Assisted Robotics-Enhanced Surgery (CARES) to improving surgical care of children - the first CARES procedure ever performed in a child was done here just last year. Our Department has played an active role in the development of this technology here at Children's Hospital, and we are advancing these methods for robotic-assisted endoscopic neck surgery, laryngeal surgery, and otologic surgery. Minimally-invasive surgery is a worthy goal for all surgery, but even more so when it comes to caring for children.             [return to index]

Raman-Spectroscopy We are currently using Raman spectrometry to characterize the spectrographic profile of various cancers. Raman spec has the potential to use "tuned laser light" to diagnose cancers using non-invasive methods. We are currently in pre-clinical trials of this technology in an inducible animal cancer model.            [return to index]

Sound Analysis of the Pediatric Airway. Computer technology - both hardware and software - has finally achieved sufficient power to perform complex Fourier transform analysis of sound patterns produced by the upper and lower airway. We are currently performing clinical trials to image pediatric airway anatomy, using sound analysis. This technology has the potential to provide high-resolution imaging of the pediatric airway without exposure to radiation that is associated with X-rays.             [return to index]

In addition to these basic and clinical-technology programs, we have many ongoing clinical trials with the goal of preventing hearing loss in children, as well as earlier detection of hearing loss in children.