Light Based Probe Detects Cancer

Researchers at Duke University have developed an "optical biopsy" that detects cancerous cells in the epithelial cells of the lungs, esophagus, and gut. Approximately 85 percent of all cancers start in the epithelium, according to the researchers. Thus, this probe could potentially detect the earliest signs of cancer, ultimately allowing for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of a large number of cancers. The technique is known as fa/LCI, or frequency-domain angle-resolved low coherence interferometry. The fa/LCI works by detecting irregularities in the cell nucleus through changes in the refraction of light. In cancerous cells, the nuclei are irregular and enlarged, which can be effectively detected using this imaging technique. The device could potentially eliminate the need for biopsies in which tissue is removed.

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