Glowing dye that clings to cancer cells gives doctors 'second pair of eyes'

The fluorescent dye showed up the cancer cells and where they had spread into other tissues.  Being able to see such detail meant the surgeons could remove cancer cells whilst preserving healthy tissue

A patient undergoing robot-assisted surgery to remove the prostate in the ProMOTE study. Cancer Research UK-funded scientists at the University of Oxford develop a combined fluorescent marker dye and imaging system to see and target prostate cancer cells in real time during surgery. Picture: Professor Alastair Lamb/University of Oxford/PA Wire

A glowing dye that clings to cancer cells gives surgeons a "second pair of eyes" to eradicate the disease, University of Oxford experts have found.

The dye, which has been developed for prostate cancer but could be adapted to other forms of the disease, shows up areas of cancerous tissue not picked up by the naked eye during surgery.