Scientists have developed a new test that can distinguish early liver cancer cells from nearly identical normal liver cells by giving them a distinctive red–brown hue.
The inability to definitively tell the difference between the often means the diseaseis detected late when treatment options are less effective, said Ravindra Kolhe, pathologist and Medical Director at Georgia Regents University.
"There is no definitive test for early diagnosis of liver cancer. Our test adds a level of comfort for making the diagnosis," said Kolhe, lead author of the study.
Ravindra Kolhe, pathologist at Georgia Regents along with members of his research group
Early liver cancer is mostly silent. By the time it’s large enough to cause classic symptoms such as abdominal pain and weight loss, the cancer cells look distinctive but the liveris failing.
Kolhe began collaborating with BioGenex laboratories, a California company with expertise in cell and tissue testing, to develop a probe that gives cancer cells the distinctive red–brown hue.
The probe detects and stains a micro RNA called mir–21, which is found in liver cancer but not healthy liver cells, Kolhe said.
The findings will be presented at the American Society of Clinical Pathology 2013 Annual Meeting in Chicago.
Source
Times of India
21 Sep 2013
