Using Gold To Tag Brain Cancer.

Using Gold To Tag Brain Cancer.

A team of Duke researchers has developed a way that will let surgeons precisely identify brain cancer.  It is esential that brain cancer be removed fully, but also that normal brain tissue be left unharmed.  The research uses tiny gold rods that are attached to antibodies.  The antibodies bind to the cancer cells and then the cancer cells can be visualized by aiming a specific type of light at the area.  So far, the work has been done on brain tissue in the lab but will soon be tried on brain cancers in living animals.