New cancer diagnostic technique debuts
Thursday, March 14, 2013 - 12:30
in Health & Medicine
Cancer cells break down sugars and produce the metabolic acid lactate at a much higher rate than normal cells. This phenomenon provides a telltale sign that cancer is present, via diagnostics such as PET scans, and possibly offers an avenue for novel cancer therapies. Now medical researchers have devised a molecular sensor that can detect levels of lactate in individual cells in real time.