Our technology leverages the benefits of nanotechnology to drive new standards in cancer care

At Ferronova, we believe that accurate identification of high-risk lymph nodes can help guide radiotherapy and surgery, and enable detailed pathological staging of complex cancers. Our products are designed to help guide radiotherapy and surgery as well as detect the early spread of cancer that would otherwise be missed by standard-of-care pathology analysis – supporting more accurate therapy and staging for solid tumours.

When to use Ferrotrace®?

Potential application before, during and after surgery

Radiologists - use MRI to identify and assess high-risk nodes

Surgeons - use MRI for pre-surgical planning and a magnetometer to identify high-risk nodes containing FerroTrace®

Radiation Oncologists - use MRI to identify high-risk nodes for radiotherapy planning

Pathologists - use a magnetometer to identify high-risk nodes containing FerroTrace®


FerroTrace® takes the same path through the lymphatic system as metastasising cancer cells and is designed to be retained in the first draining lymph nodes − the high-risk lymph nodes. It is designed to enable highly accurate detection of affected lymph nodes.

FerroTrace® is an accurate and durable tracer with potential application before, during and after surgery.

Compared with currently available tracers, FerroTrace® is designed to be:

Highly specific

FerroTrace® has been designed to have high specificity to high-risk lymph nodes due to macrophage binding between the CD206 receptor and the tracer’s mannose label. 9,11

Durable

FerroTrace® has extented retention in the nodes and therefore eliminates time-sensitive logistical issues associated with radiotracers. Upon delivery, FerroTrace® is visible within minutes with the potential for retention up to 6 months.

Capable of performing MRI prior to neoadjuvant treatment

Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy affects the sensitivity and accuracy of the identification of high-risk lymph nodes using conventional dye or radiotracer techniques 12,13 during surgery, as radiation damages the lymphatic network. The extended retention of FerroTrace® enables an added capability of performing MRI before neoadjuvant treatment, thereby providing better mapping of high-risk lymph nodes that guides radiation and surgical planning.

Advantageous compared to conventional dyes and radiotracers

Compared with FerroTrace®, indocyanine green and blue dyes are non-specific and flow rapidly through multiple levels of lymph nodes. 9 Radiocolloid tracers require careful handling and have a narrow window of use. High concentration of radiocolloid tracers at the injection site may obscure lymph nodes signal when they are located closely to the primary tumor. 9 In contrast, FerroTrace® is easy to use, radiation free with demonstrated efficacy as a lymphatic tracer.

Highly Specific

FerroTrace® has been designed to have high specificity to high-risk lymph nodes due to macrophage binding between the CD206 receptor and the tracer’s mannose label. 9,11

Durable

FerroTrace® has extented retention in the nodes and therefore eliminates time-sensitive logistical issues associated with radiotracers. Upon delivery, FerroTrace® is visible within minutes with the potential for retention up to 6 months.

Capable of performing MRI prior to neoadjuvant treatment

Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy affects the sensitivity and accuracy of the identification of high-risk lymph nodes using conventional dye or radiotracer techniques 12,13 during surgery, as radiation damages the lymphatic network. The extended retention of FerroTrace® enables an added capability of performing MRI before neoadjuvant treatment, thereby providing better mapping of high-risk lymph nodes that guides radiation and surgical planning.

Advantageous compared to conventional dyes and radiotracers

Compared with FerroTrace®, indocyanine green and blue dyes are non-specific and flow rapidly through multiple levels of lymph nodes. 9 Radiocolloid tracers require careful handling and have a narrow window of use. High concentration of radiocolloid tracers at the injection site may obscure lymph nodes signal when they are located closely to the primary tumor. 9 In contrast, FerroTrace® is easy to use, radiation free with demonstrated efficacy as a lymphotrophic tracer.