Imagine having the ability to see the cancer cells in a patient during surgery. With this ability, there would be a drastically lower chance of cancer returning after the procedure, which translates to better patient survival and a longer life. This could mean surgeries would only have to be performed once because all of the cancer cells would be removed during the first visit. Well, ladies and gentlemen, earlier this year, this technology was developed!
A team at Washington University School of Medicine has created a pair of glasses that can visualize cancer cells using a video feed through the glasses (imagine Iron Man‘s helmet screen but less techy) with the help of a special molecular agent (a dye of sorts). This special agent stains only cancer cells, which are seen as blue specks on the glasses, allowing surgeons to see the cancer cells and their concentrations in real time to efficiently clean up missed leftover cancerous cells. While the specific molecular agent has not been revealed, it most likely works similarly to a fluorescent dye. It binds to cancer cells and emits a wavelength of light (unseen by the naked eye) that is captured by the video camera and projected onto the glasses as blue specks.
Image Source: Coneyl Jay
This unique pair of cancer-seeing glasses was first tested in a breast cancer removal surgery on February 10th, 2014 in Barnes-Jewish Hospital with success, and the molecular agent is currently undergoing FDA approval for use with the glasses. If this technology receives FDA approval, future cancer removal surgeries will forever be revolutionized!
TL;DR: A pair of cancer-seeing glasses with a special molecular has been developed and is seeking FDA approval.
