Japanese researchers have developed a way to spot tiny, hidden tumours which are typically missed by CT scans. Residual cancer which may have spread and scattered throughout the body can now be detected by a fluorescent dye called gGlu-HMRG.
When applied, this triggers a chemical reaction in the presence of cancer cells, causing them to glow green.
So far, the reagent has only been tested on ovarian cancer cells transplanted into laboratory mice. However, the team is already on the way to producing a compound for human studies, and the researchers are confident that with further development, the dye could eventually be used in other types of cancers.
The full study is published in Science:
http://stm.sciencemag.org/content/3/110/110ra119
Futuretimeline.net | Technology | Singularity | 2020 | 2050 | 2100 
November 27, 2011 at 11:57 pm |
Amazing, great advancement but still plenty to go.
November 28, 2011 at 12:14 am |
Just one of many breakthroughs that will someday increase our health and well being beyond unimaginable limits
January 4, 2012 at 10:43 pm |
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