UW-Madison scientists identified two new fluorescent tumor-targeting agents that light up brain cancer cells, according to a Jan. 22 press release.
Researchers injected alkylphosphocholine agents into mice implanted with cancer cells, which then flowed through the bloodstream and to the brain in order to illuminate the unhealthy cells. These compounds are detectable by many modern microscopes, making them useful for surgeries.
“[The discovery] allowed us to create fluorescent APC agents that can visualize cancer cells beautifully under high-resolution microscopy,” Dr. Jamey Weichert, associate professor of Radiology, said in the release.
A scientific paper written by Dr. John Kuo, associate professor of Neurological Surgery, and Weichert showed APC agents can detect more than 55 different cancer lines, including some resistant to current treatments. Cancer cells absorb the APC agents, which can either allow the cancer cells to be seen or deliver a radioactive medicine that kills the cells.
A tumor-labeling agent is approved for use in Europe, but one of the agents discovered is superior to it. Both APC agents show cancer-selective uptake, so normal cells are not affected, according to the release.
“It can be difficult to distinguish between cancer cells and adjacent healthy tissue,” Kuo said in the release. “This study is an important proof of principle.”
