New technology makes cancer glow in the dark

A new innovative imaging technique is helping surgeons in their bid to effectively treat ovarian cancer.

Scientists from Munich, headed by Vasilis Ntziachristos, professor of biological imaging, have created a new multispectral fluorescence imaging system which makes tumours in the abdomen easier to identify, in order that surgeons can remove them in their entirety improve the outcome of treatment.

In the study, nine patients with ovarian cancer were injected with folic acid chemically coupled to a green fluorescent dye as most ovarian tumours have a protein molecule on their surface that bonds with folic acid.

During the surgery, the medical team can then shine a special laser onto the ovaries which causes the green-labelled folic acid covered cancer cells to glow, while the healthy tissue remains dark.

"The use of advanced, real-time optical technology will allow us to standardise data collection and accuracy so that studies performed at multiple clinical centres can be accurately compared and analysed," explained Professor Ntziachristos.