Chocolate, fizzy drinks and other sugar-laden foods could soon be used to detect cancer.
Scientists have developed a technique that identifies the disease by tracking how sugar is absorbed by the body.
Malignant tumours consume much more glucose – a simple sugar – than healthy tissues in order to feed their rapid growth.
By adjusting an MRI scanner to look for glucose uptake, researchers at University College London discovered tumours glowed brightly during imaging, after something sweet had been consumed.
The breakthrough provides a safer and simpler alternative to standard radioactive techniques, and could be available in as little as 18 months.
Due to the need for radiation, the current method of scanning is not recommended for pregnant women and children, and only available at a limited number of larger hospitals and specialist centres.
In contrast, MRI facilities are commonplace, meaning less travel for patients. And as there are no adverse effects from the technique, it can be used on a frequent basis to track whether a cancer is responding to therapy and tailor a patient’s treatment.
As well as being cheaper and safer, the new method also raises hopes of improved survival rates.
Senior author Professor Mark Lythgoe, director of UCL’s Centre for Advanced Biomedical Imaging (CABI), said the results had been unexpected.
He said: ‘I certainly didn’t believe it as possible to fine tune an MRI scanner to pick up glucose movement even 18 months ago. But our research proves it can be done.
‘It can be done after consuming a sweet drink, like a cola or a fruit juice, or food. We can detect cancer using the same sugar content found in half a standard sized chocolate bar.’
In the study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, the team tracked tumours in mice with bowel cancer. They found the cancerous growth was detectable by an MRI scanner following glucose ingestion,Daily Mail informs.
