Name: We can start winning the war against cancer
Uploaded: 2016-10-05T15:13:27Z
Duration: 12 min 32 s
Description: Learn about the latest advances in the war against cancer from Stanford researcher Adam de la Zerda, who's working on some cutting-edge techniques of his own. Using a remarkable imaging technology that illuminates cancer-seeking gold particles injected into the body, de la Zerda's lab hopes to light the way for surgeons to remove even the tiniest trace of deadly tumors.

Adam de la Zerda: We can start winning the war against cancer

We can start winning the war against cancer

Learn about the latest advances in the war against cancer from Stanford researcher Adam de la Zerda, who's working on some cutting-edge techniques of his own. Using a remarkable imaging technology that illuminates cancer-seeking gold particles injected into the body, de la Zerda's lab hopes to light the way for surgeons to remove even the tiniest trace of deadly tumors.

Winning the war on cancer has remained elusive, in part because doctors still operate in the dark, unable to detect tiny clusters of malignant cells. Current imaging tools cannot spot tumors smaller than 100 million cells, forcing surgeons to guess and often miss dangerous remnants. A new approach uses gold nanoparticles that seek out cancer cells, lighting up even the smallest traces so only diseased tissue is removed. This technology points to a future where cancer can be caught earlier and treatments guided with far greater accuracy.