New Biolaser Technique Shines Light on Cancer Cell Detection

**Researchers at the University of Michigan** have pioneered a groundbreaking method to detect circulating tumor cells in the bloodstream of pancreatic and lung cancer patients. Traditional methods rely on staining specific surface proteins of tumor cells with fluorescent dyes, which can kill the cells and potentially miss some that lack these proteins on their surface. This new technique instead uses biolasers to stain the cell nucleus, helping preserve the cells alive for further study. **The process involves passing blood samples through a device called the Labyrinth, which pre-separates larger tumor cells from smaller white blood cells.** These tumor cells are then sandwiched between mirrors and hit with an excitation laser, producing stronger emissions than traditional fluorescence. A machine learning model, the Deep Cell-Laser Classifier, was employed to identify the cancerous cells with 99% accuracy, even recognizing lung cancer cells without specific training. **The ultimate goal is to develop a device that can sort and isolate these cells for deeper analysis.** This innovation holds the promise of revealing more about tumor aggressiveness and treatment resistance, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in scientific advancements.