Scientists from Russia’s Saratov State University (SSU) have uncovered unique optical properties of cancerous tumors in breast tissue, finding that light penetrates malignant cells nearly twice as effectively as healthy ones. This discovery, published in the Journal of Biophotonics, offers promising advancements in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment through optical methods.
Breast cancer, the most prevalent cancer among women globally, affects over 2.3 million annually, according to WHO data. The SSU study highlights the potential for laser therapy, a cutting-edge optical treatment that targets tumors without harming healthy tissue, using light-absorbing drugs or nanoparticles. Researchers noted that structural changes in cancerous tissues significantly reduce light scattering, enhancing penetration depth by 1.5 to 2 times. This finding may revolutionize laser therapy precision and optical diagnostic methods.
Led by Professor Elina Genina, the team conducted comparative optical analyses on healthy and malignant breast tissues using advanced techniques. Their work contributes to the development of light and heat distribution models for therapies such as photodynamic and plasmonic laser photothermal treatments. These advancements align with SSU’s Priority-2030 program, supporting innovative research to combat cancer effectively.
