Just a spoonful of sugar helps the oesophageal cancer disappear
Posted Jan 18 2012 6:11am
The number of people being diagnosed with oesophageal cancerAbnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body. is increasing rapidly. New research published in the Nature Medicine journal has found that the changes in sugar molecules lining the oesophagusThe gullet, the part of the gastrointestinal system that extends down from the mouth cavity to the stomach. in the pre-cancerousMalignant, a tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body. condition of Barrett’s dysplasiaAbnormal development of cells or tissue, which may become cancerous over time, or may resolve with or without treatment. may make the removal of pre-malignantA lesion, condition or syndrome that if left untreated may develop into cancer. cells easier, thereby stopping them from developing into cancer.
Barrett’s dysplasia, if correctly diagnosed, can prevent oesophageal cancer from developing if the correct cells are found and removed. Until now, however, there has been no method for easily identifying these cells. The new mechanism involves spraying a fluorescent probe onto the oesophageal lining which will stick to sugars and make abnormal areas light up during an endoscopyExamination of the inside of the body using a tube equipped with a light source and either a small camera or an optical system..
The authors say that the increased numbers of oesophageal cancer in the UK make it “increasingly important to find ways of detecting it as early as possible.” The cancer is currently the fifth biggest cause of cancer-related mortality in the UK with approximately 7000 new cases diagnosed each year.
The number of people being diagnosed with oesophageal cancerAbnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body. is increasing rapidly. New research published in the Nature Medicine journal has found that the changes in sugar molecules lining the oesophagusThe gullet, the part of the gastrointestinal system that extends down from the mouth cavity to the stomach. in the pre-cancerousMalignant, a tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body. condition of Barrett’s dysplasiaAbnormal development of cells or tissue, which may become cancerous over time, or may resolve with or without treatment. may make the removal of pre-malignantA lesion, condition or syndrome that if left untreated may develop into cancer. cells easier, thereby stopping them from developing into cancer.
Barrett’s dysplasia, if correctly diagnosed, can prevent oesophageal cancer from developing if the correct cells are found and removed. Until now, however, there has been no method for easily identifying these cells. The new mechanism involves spraying a fluorescent probe onto the oesophageal lining which will stick to sugars and make abnormal areas light up during an endoscopyExamination of the inside of the body using a tube equipped with a light source and either a small camera or an optical system..
The authors say that the increased numbers of oesophageal cancer in the UK make it “increasingly important to find ways of detecting it as early as possible.” The cancer is currently the fifth biggest cause of cancer-related mortality in the UK with approximately 7000 new cases diagnosed each year.