Update Date: 2008/07/12 15:00

American scientists have used genetically modified cold viruses to force prostate cancer cells in experimental mice to become visible. The next step is to determine if this method is equally effective in humans.

In the early stages of prostate cancer cell spread and during the latent period in pelvic lymph nodes, it is difficult to detect them using traditional CT scans. The research team at the University of California, Los Angeles, has modified a cold virus. This genetically altered virus specifically attacks prostate cancer cells. Once inside the cancer cells, the virus induces the cells to produce a protein that becomes visible under positron emission tomography (PET) scans.

Researchers say that if this technology proves effective in humans, it could enable the early detection and treatment of prostate cancer at the initial stages of its spread.

Source: http://tw. news. yahoo. com/ article/ url/ d/ a/ 080712/ 1/ 1331w. html