WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Purdue University has helped develop a cutting edge break-through that could literally shine the light on cancer and save hundreds of thousands of lives.
"It's like putting Christmas lights on a dark tree," said Dr. Phil Low, Purdue University Distinguished Professor of Chemistry.
Low points to research nearly a decade in the making. On one side his computer screen is a picture of tissue with cancer. But many of the tumors are too small to see with the naked eye.
On the other side of his screen is a picture using a fluorescent bulb which light up the tumors.? The revolutionary idea began at Purdue back in 2003.
In the last few months, a Dutch surgeon has operated on 20 cancer patients and used the dye to see what small spots of cancer he's missed. The results are astounding.
"These surgeons have removed an area 5 times more malignant masses with the aid of the fluorescence than they were able to without it," said Low.
That's means 5 times more cancer removed from a human.
"The more malignant tissue that the surgeon can remove, the better the prognosis can be for the cancer patient," said Low.
In other words, the better chance they have of a full recovery.
The flourescent dye works by attaching to the folic acid vitamin that some types of cancer have a big appetite for. Low estimates 40% of cancers could be helped with this fluorescent idea, particularly ovarian cancer, but also many types of lung, brain and kidney cancers.
"If we can be successful in saving lives or prolonging life and helping people overcome disease that is very satisfying," said Low. "I'd love to see that happen."
According to the American Cancer Society, roughly 2 in every 5 Americans will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their life. That's 1.5 million cases this year. That's according to the American Cancer Society.
Low said the fluorescence techonology is coming to the Mayo Clinic for trials in a few months. If things go well, he hopes it can be used on a widespread basis in 3 to 4 years.
Source: http://www.wlfi.com/dpp/news/local/purdue-helps-develop-cancer-fighting-tool
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