December 11, 2008

Illuminated cancer cells easier to track

The studying of cancer has been given a new tool to help with the studying of the disease; scientists have found they are able to use a fluorescent compound, which attaches itself to the cells. This means that they can track it to see if the cancer is growing, dying off or remaining the same.

This research has been carried by science teams in Japan and the USA. Who have been monitoring the spread of ovarian and breast cancer, in a study that has been using mice and monitored with the use of tiny cameras through an endoscope.

Throughout the tests, scientists were able to track the cells, which enabled to the teams to determine if the cancer is growing, yet as soon as the cancer cells die the compound stops glowing and is eventually flushed out of the system.

Source [Telegraph]