Shining a LIGHT on spreading CANCER CELLS

Researchers are perfecting a technology that may help solve one of the most vexing problems in cancer treatment: how to tell if cancer is spreading to other parts of the body. After first injecting a person with a chemical that labels specific types of cancer cells, doctors would then aim a laser at a vein near the surface of the body (for example in the wrist), “lighting up” circulating cancer cells. Unlike CT scans and MRI, the standard methods of detecting wayward tumors, the laser is able to identify and count individual cancer cells. And because it’s trained on a vein, the laser can monitor a large volume of blood, making it a much more sensitive test than could be obtained by using a small blood sample. Doctors hope the new laser technique will provide timely information on the progression of a person’s cancer, allowing them to tailor their treatment. A clinical trial is planned.
From the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and the University of Michigan