A better lab test to measure a glow dye used in brain surgery
Original title: Analysis of porphyrins from serum and the benefit of inert biphenyl columns for liquid chromatography separation.
How far along is this research?
- Lab cells
- Animals
- Review
- Tested in people
This was done on cells in a lab, not in people. It is a very early step.
This is a lab tool for researchers, not something patients can get.
The short version
Scientists found a better lab method to measure a dye that helps surgeons see brain tumors.
What was studied. Surgeons can use a dye that makes tumors glow during brain surgery. This team tested new lab tools to measure that dye and related substances in blood.
What they found. A different kind of lab column separated six related substances better. It also found them more easily. Special tubing with the new column worked best and made each test faster. The team also made a computer tool to help sort the results.
What this means, and what it doesn't
What it could mean: This could help researchers study the glow dye more closely in blood and tissue from people with glioma: A tumor that starts in the glial cells, the support cells of the brain and spinal cord. Gliomas are given a grade from 1 to 4 describing how the tumor is expected to behave. See the glossary. Over time, that may help doctors learn more about how the dye works in surgery.
What it doesn't mean: This is not a new treatment. It is a lab method for measuring things, not a test of how well surgery works. It does not change care for patients today. It is not a cure.
Source: PubMed, September 15, 2026 · Read the original
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