New Imaging Technique Accurately Finds Cancer Cells, Fast

A research team at the University of Illinois has developed not only a tissue-imaging technique that boasts over 99% confidence in imaging-accuracy, the technique can fully image all cancerous masses in a body in just five minutes. The novel microscopy technique, called NIVI, or nonlinear interferometric vibrational imaging, was tested on rat breast-cancer cells and tissues. The produced images were very easy to read as well as color-coded, showing clear outlines of tumor boundaries. The current methods used for diagnosing cancerous cells are subjective often taking a day or more for results, and require the removal of a small tissue sample from a suspect area. NIVI, however, focuses on molecular composition of tissue – normal cells have high lipid concentrations, but cancerous cells produce much more protein; by identifying abnormally high protein concentrations in cells, NIVI can accurately differentiate between tumors and healthy tissue without tissue removal or stains. The researchers are currently developing ways to expand the application of the technique, for example, tuning the frequency of laser beams used in NIVI to test for other types of molecules.

This technique opens up many potential possibilities for cancer treatment, especially in cases of knowing where the cancer has spread to. I found this article very interesting, because a classmate back in high school was diagnosed with cancer – a tumorous mass found just below his knee. Not only did he have to get surgery to get it removed, he was later informed that a lot of healthy tissue had been unnecessarily removed. Had this method been in application at the time, the recovery period would have been much quicker due to accurate imaging of the mass rather than the current subjective methods. This is a very promising method of cancer identification and probably treatment in the future, and I am definitely looking to see where this goes.

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101124124024.htm