Cancer Leuchtspray makes tumors shine

Cancer: Fluorescent spray makes tumor cells shine

11/24/2011

Researchers developed a light-emitting spray that makes tumor cells shine green. Surgeons can more easily identify and remove cancer cells. Unfortunately, the gammaglutamyl HMRG marker is not suitable for all cancers.

Why do the cancer cells shine??
When the fluorescent dye in the marker is sprayed on the cells, it reacts with an enzyme found on the surface of the cancer cells. The tumor cells begin to glow for a good hour and so stand out from healthy tissue. This method of identifying cancer cells could be used in large operations as well as in biopsies and endoscopic procedures. Hisataka Kobayashi of the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda and his colleagues report: „The spray can be easily sprayed on tissues suspected of containing tumors“.

Dye not suitable for all cancers
So far, the gammaglutamyl HMRG marker has been successfully tested only on ovarian cancer cells. For this, the scientists have tested both human cells and transgenic mice with human tumor cells. The glow effect had been detectable in eleven different lines of human ovarian cancer. The researchers report that the marker is also suitable for various cervical cancer tumors. In these types of tumors, the enzyme gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase is produced on the surface, which decomposes the marker and thus makes the dye glow. The researchers report: „But other fluorescent markers on the same principle could also be developed for enzymes on the surface of other cancers.“

Other fluorescence markers act more slowly
In addition to this novel method, fluorescent markers were tested that attach to the tumor proteins of intestinal and pancreatic cancer with antibodies. Even viruses that infiltrate into the cancer cells and make them glow have already been tested. Kobayashi and his colleagues report: „However, these markers usually need to be given intravenously and take longer to become active.“ The gammaglutamyl HMRG marker, on the other hand, can be used at a significantly lower dose during surgery. The researchers explain in „Science Translational Medicine“, that would reduce the risk of harmful side effects. (Source: Science Translational Medicine, 2011; doi: 10.1126 / scitranslmed.3002823)

Number of new cases enormously high
The World Cancer Organization (UICC) drew attention to the large number of new cases of cancer during World Cancer Day earlier this year. In Germany alone, about 450,000 people would contract cancer each year. According to the Federal Statistical Office, every fourth death (25.3 percent) in Germany is linked to cancer. Cause of many of the cancers is an unhealthy lifestyle, which included tobacco and alcohol consumption, obesity and excessive exposure to sunlight, reports the UICC. If these risk factors were minimized and in addition a healthy amount of exercise was added, many new diseases could be prevented. (Ag)

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Image: Lange123 at de.wikipedia