Cancer Marker

In the article Multipurpose Molecule for Cancer Surgery the author Lauren Gravitz talks about a protein marker that could be used in treating cancer patients. The marker was created to help surgeons remove cancerous tissue from patients. The protein is made up of two parts. The first part of the molecule gets cut off when in the presence of cancerous tissue. By it getting cut off the second part of the molecule is able to freely enter the tissue of the patient. This labeled protein then fluoresces green. While operating the surgeons would be able to see this fluorescent green and use it as a marker of how much tissue they should remove.

This breakthrough however does not mean it is one hundred percent working. This only helps surgeons find out how much tissue they can remove not how cancer can be treated. This also does not leave out the possibility that some cancer will go unnoticed. For smaller masses of cancerous tissue may not light up as bright as a much larger mass will thus critically affect the surrounding tissue with lower concentration of cancer. The scientists have thought of a way to kill the surrounding tissue that is not in effect yet however. They want to add a third chain that is toxic when hit upon with white light. With this all the tissue that was not removed would be destroyed by the toxin. This does show promise in the removal of cancer and is one step closer to helping the human population fight cancer.