"Tumor Paint" was developed by Dr. Jim Olson, a brain cancer specialist at Seattle Children's Hospital and a professor at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. This new technology is said to utilize scorpion venom in order to help surgeons find and remove dangerous brain cancer cells. The "Tumor Paint" is created by utilizing a protein found in the paralyzing venom of a Israeli Deathstalker scorpion. This proteim is joined with a fluorescent molecule "Flashlight." The scorpion toxin finds the cancer cells and dags the flashlight to them and makes these celks glow, making it far easier to detect and remove them. Although this process was developed for brain tumors specifically, it has been useful for other forms of cancer tumors as well. Test trials have, so far, been successful. Human trials will begin in Australia this month. If these trials also ho well, trials will begin in the U.S. within six to nine months.
-Brianna Boahn
-Brianna Boahn