health

Sprayable reagent makes cancer tissues glow during surgery

3 Comments
By Junichi Oshita, Nikkei Digital Health

A Japanese research team has developed a fluorescence reagent that is sprayed on suspicious areas during a surgical operation to make cancerous tissues emit light, making it possible to distinguish cancerous tissues from healthy tissues.

The team was led by Yasuteru Urano, professor at the Graduate School of Medicine, the University of Tokyo.

This time, the research team developed a sprayable fluorescence reagent, exploiting the fact that the activity of sugar chain-decomposing enzymes is high in cancer cells. The reagent itself is colorless and transparent and is not fluorescent. But when it reacts with β-galactosidase, which is contained in cancer cells, its structure changes, emitting a strong fluorescent light.

β-galactosidase is a sugar chain-decomposing enzyme whose activity is believed to be strengthened in ovarian cancer, breast cancer and colon cancer cells.

Though several fluorescence reagents have been developed for β-galactosidase, it is difficult to use them for cancer detection because of their low sensitivities. This time, the research team optimally designed the structure of the reagent molecule. When it reacts with β-galactosidase, it emits a more than 1,000 times brighter light, making it possible to detect the activity of cancer cells' β-galactosidase.

In a verification test, various types of ovarian cancer cells were transplanted in the abdominal cavity of a mouse, and this reagent was administered to the mouse. As a result, minute cancer tissues (smaller than 1mm) were detected with a high accuracy. And many types of cancer cells were detected.

The fluorescent light emitted from the cells was very bright and visible to the naked eye. Also, minute cancer cells inside the abdominal cavity of the living mouse were detected with a fluorescence endoscope and successfully removed by using the light as a guide.

Because the new technology enables to use inexpensive equipment for the detection of fluorescent light, it can be a general method for cancer detection, the research group said. The group is conducting a verification test by using patient-derived samples for surgical operation, aiming to perform a safety test, etc and apply it to clinical tests.

© Japan Today

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.


3 Comments
Login to comment

That. Is. AWESOME! Way to go Urano sensei!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Nice work.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites