London - A simple pill that “lights up” tumours could help improve the diagnosis of breast cancer.
More than 2 million middle-aged women undergo screening for the disease in Britain each year, but tests cannot always differentiate between benign and malignant lumps.
US scientists have now created a tablet with an imaging agent that selectively binds to cells or blood vessels that are unique to tumours. The dye then fluoresces under near-infrared light, pin-pointing the problem area.
The findings could help avoid cases of “false positives” following conventional screening which can mean painful biopsies to ascertain whether a mass really is cancer.
In three in every 200 cases, women undergo unnecessary surgery or chemotherapy for slow-growing tumours that may never cause problems in their lifetime.
The researchers at the University of Michigan tested their technique in mice and discovered that fluorescing tumours could be detected up to an inch below the skin. The team, who presented their findingsat a meeting of the American Chemical Society, now plan to make a pill for humans.
If successful, the new technique could benefit women with “dense” breast tissue whose mammograms are typically more difficult to read.
A separate study, reported by the Mail last week, suggested that the NHS screening programme could be missing 3 500 cases with dense tissue each year. University of Michigan researcher Dr Greg Thurber said: “Screening can potentially catch the disease early in some patients, but false positives can lead to unnecessary, aggressive treatments in patients who don’t need them.
“We don’t know how to select the right patients to treat. Our work could help change that.”
UK charity Breast Cancer Care said the findings have “exciting potential”.
Daily Mail