Glow in the dark cancer dye could spell end of chemo

Dyes that light up tumours could help surgeons be sure they've removed it all

The rim hairs of a green jelly fish
Getty ImagesSoe Myint

A tumour is a tricky beast. It can be tough for surgeons to know whether they've removed every last bit of cancer, as distinguishing between cells that are healthy and those that are malignant isn't always straightforward.

But the light at the end of the scalpel might be nigh. Dyes that cause tumours to glow like jellyfish so surgeons can see exactly where the cancer lies could be used in operations within a decade, scientists now predict.

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This could spell the end of intensive chemotherapy as doctors could be sure they've removed all of the cancer cells.

Dr Matthew Bogyo, a biochemist at Stanford University in California, who reviewed the progress of the technology in the journal Chemistry and Biology said:

"It's a field that's up and coming really fast right now. Most people have no idea this stuff can be done, it sounds like science fiction, but we're less than a decade away from this becoming standard practice."

For over ten years, Bogyo and his team have been working on developing chemicals that can target specific molecules which are only secreted by cancer cells, then make them light up.

The technique would involve connecting patients to a drip that sends dye molecules into the blood, where they then travel to tumours. The surgeon would insert a small camera into the patient to see the tumour glowing bright green. The tumour could then be& removed with keyhole surgery.

Such 'tumour paints' are currently being tested in clinical trials. It is not yet known whether these dyes will work for all types of cancers.

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