BPoD has moved!

BPoD has recently changed our domain name - we can now be found at bpod.org.uk

Please update your bookmarks!

Now in our 13th year of bringing you beautiful imagery from biomedical science every day

Search the archive of over 4000 images

Seeing Potential

New imaging technique that can spot tumour cells most likely to spread around the body

27 December 2018

Seeing Potential

Metastasis, the ability of cancerous cells to spread to other organs, is the reason why cancer is so deadly, and an enduring puzzle for cancer research. Yet not all tumours metastasise, and not all cells in aggressive cancers develop this most dangerous property, so being able to identify and monitor high-risk cells would be a significant breakthrough. To that aim, researchers have recently developed a new imaging technique, to spot cells with a high metastatic potential. By comparing healthy and cancerous tissues, they identified a key marker of metastasis, the modification of a signalling protein known as GIV/Girdin, then developed biosensors to detect it. In the breast cancer cell here, green, orange and red fluorescence indicates the presence of modified Girdin, and a high metastatic potential. Though still far from clinical applications, this type of sensor could eventually measure the risk of metastasis for patients, helping to personalise their treatment.

Written by Emmanuelle Briolat

Search The Archive

Submit An Image

Follow on Tumblr

Follow on Instagram

What is BPoD?

BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

Read More

BPoD is also available in Catalan at www.bpod.cat with translations by the University of Valencia.