Scientists detect cancer by scanning veins

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind., Sept. 4 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists have developed a technology that can detect cancer by using a laser to scan veins, eliminating the need to draw blood.

Purdue University chemical and biomedical engineering scientists collaborated with cancer and biotechnology experts from the Mayo Clinic to develop the laser technology.

In addition to being less invasive, the new detection method evaluates a much larger volume of blood than what can be drawn from a patient for analysis, said Purdue Professor Philip Low.

"In the initial stages of cancer, there are very few circulating tumor cells -- cells that indicate the spread of cancer and initiate secondary tumor formation," Low said. "By increasing the volume of blood analyzed, we improve the sensitivity of the test and allow for earlier diagnosis.

"If there are two cancer cells in every 50 milliliters of blood, odds are the cells would not be found in a 10-milliliter blood sample," he said. "However, the cells would be found in the 100 milliliters of blood that flow through large veins each minute."

A paper detailing the technology and detection technique appeared in the July 10 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.