Scientists have tested in mice, a method to find the exact extent of a tumour during brain surgery. A collaboration between the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), UK, and the Medical University of Silesia, Poland, has created a method to help surgeons remove brain cancers, such as glioblastoma multiforme, more effectively and boost the immune response to fight any remaining cancer cells. The researchers used a technique called photoimmunotherapy, which uses two molecules attached to each other (affibody-IR7OO), that help to bind to the tumour and then emit a fluorescent light. Upon administrating the molecules, the surgeon shines a light and the margins of the tumour start to glow. The researchers also observed that mice treated with the molecule showed distinct signs of tumour cell death. “Surgery is challenging due to the location of the tumours, and so new ways to see tumour cells to be removed during surgery, and to treat residual cancer cells that remain afterwards, could be of great benefit.”, said Dr Gabriela Kramer-Marek, of ICR.

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