Scientists have learned how to detect cancer by the level of sugar in human cells

Scientists have created a technology for visualizing the sugar coating of cells, which makes it possible to diagnose oncological diseases at an early stage. This was reported on May 18 by Science Daily magazine.

Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Light in Germany studied the glycocalyx, a thin layer of carbohydrates on the surface of each human cell. Using ultra-high resolution microscopy, the experts have compiled detailed maps of these sugar structures using a method called "glycan atlas."

During the experiments, the team analyzed the structure of sugars in cell cultures, primary human blood cells, and tissue samples. It turned out that glycocalyx changes its molecular structure depending on the state of the cell, actually working as a screen that transmits information from the inside out.

In particular, nanoscale sugar patterns allowed scientists to reliably differentiate the stages of cancer development, determine the state of immune cells, and distinguish affected areas from healthy ones in breast tissue.

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"The results lay a promising foundation for the development of future diagnostic methods, as the glycan atlas method provides reliable results even in complex samples," said Leonard Meckl, head of the scientific group.

In the future, the authors of the project plan to automate the analysis process and examine more samples in order to adapt the technology for everyday medical practice. The researchers expect that the method will allow them to detect dangerous diseases even before the onset of clinical symptoms.

Ekaterina Demyanovskaya, a neurologist and expert at the Hemotest laboratory, spoke to Izvestia on May 13 about the impact of emotions on cancer treatment. According to her, psychoncology considers psychological support as an important part of comprehensive treatment. The specialist emphasized that the relationship between the patient's emotional state, commitment to therapy and the prognosis of the disease has been confirmed, but a positive attitude cannot replace full-fledged treatment and does not guarantee the absence of relapses.