‘Lit up’ tumour cells may aid cancer surgery

CANCER surgery can be made easier and more effective by “lighting up” tumour cells with glowing molecules, research has shown.

The technique allowed doctors to spot previously undetectable ovarian tumours just one tenth of a millimetre across. Scientists hope it will dramatically improve success rates in tricky cancer operations.

Clusters of ovarian tumour cells smaller than around three millimetres are often missed by surgeons using traditional methods, which rely on vision and touch.