Glowing chemical 'could aid brain cancer surgery'

[Northerner]

A chemical that makes brain tumours glow pink could help surgeons to remove the cancer safely, a trial suggests.

Scientists gave people with suspected glioma a drink containing 5-ALA, a substance known to accumulate in fast-growing cancer cells.

The pink glow the chemical causes was found in people with the most aggressive cancers.

Researchers hope it will make it easier for surgeons to distinguish between cancer cells and healthy brain tissue.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-46073972

 

[mikeyB]

This isn’t a particularly new concept. Presumably this would work in other fast growing tumours, and in looking for otherwise undetectable spread in abdominal tumours such as ovarian cancer. More light at the end of the tunnel.