New Imaging Technique Could Establish Early On If A Cancer Patient's Treatment Is Working

A cancer research study recently published in Nature Medicine (UK) has shown how a device thousands of times more sensitive than an MRI could be used to detect the responsiveness of the tumors to applied treatments in cancer patients, within only days. This method could be a huge factor in trying to save a patient’s life, especially since current treatment methodologies involve simply monitoring the tumor’s response over time, which can take weeks.

This “super-sensitive scanning device” imaged treatments being given to mice with lymphoma. Researchers working with the mice were actually able to see the tumor cells in the mice being killed in the advanced MRI scans, showing that the drug treatment was successful. This method works by making the MRI highly sensitive to pyruvate, a substance which cancer cells uptake. The pyruvate was cooled to absolute zero to make the waves it emitted stronger, then dissolving it in heated water and given to the mice. Professor Brindle added: "The technique we've developed is straightforward and fast acting. The pyruvate circulates around the body of the mice within just a few seconds, so images can be taken virtually straight away".

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/90218.php