According to preliminary findings from a small study presented Monday at the Society of Thoracic Surgeons’ annual meeting, a new drug ‘lights up’ stray lung cancer cells when looked through an imaging technique, reducing cancer recurrence post-surgery. In fact, the study found that the new combination—dubbed intraoperative molecular imaging (IMI)—helped improve outcomes in surgeries of 1 out of 4 patients.
Though not involved in the study, LCRF Board Chair Brendon M. Stiles, MD, recently shared his thoughts on the study with HealthDay. He told the media outlet that the potential for the new technology is “exciting” for certain types of early lung cancer lesions that aren’t easy to see or feel. “There really shouldn’t be any side effects; it’s fast and user-friendly,” said Dr. Stiles. But he added that the technology may be somewhat limited because near infrared light doesn’t see deeply into the body.” Pre-op imaging has gotten so amazingly good, we’re finding earlier and earlier cancers. It’s hard to think they’d find nodules that weren’t on the CT scan.”
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