图片来源：healtharea.org
近日，在利物浦举办的英国国家癌症研究所癌症(NCRI)会议上，来自国外的研究人员阐述了他们的最新研究发现，研究者发现了一种新型蛋白，该蛋白可以帮助清晰地绘制出脑瘤的边缘图谱，这样研究人员就可以利用磁共振成像进行扫描来进行深度研究。
目前该研究正在大鼠机体中进行试验，其为后期进入临床试验来改善脑瘤疗法的准确率提供了一定基础；这项报道中研究者首次在脑瘤的侵袭性边缘组织的血管内部发现了这种特殊蛋白，该蛋白的产生可以作为脑瘤引发的炎性反应的一部分，而绘制炎性反应应或可帮助科学家们绘制完整的癌症图谱。
目前科学家们已经开发出了特殊的染料，其可以识别并且吸附位于脑部血管中的VCAM-1蛋白，而且也可以通过MRI扫描来呈现并且追踪，更重要的是，该蛋白位于血管内部其可以作为血液中的一种可获得的特殊靶点。这项研究可以帮助科学家们绘制出完整的脑瘤图片，当然同时也是首次帮助绘制出生长中的肿瘤边缘的图谱。
临床MRI技术可以呈现出病人机体中渗漏血管的图像，这可以作为脑瘤的一种指示，而不幸的是，脑瘤边缘的血管通常是完整的，因此MRI技术或许并不能揭示整个的肿瘤图谱；在英国每年都会有大约9700人被诊断为脑瘤或其他神经系统疾病；研究者Nicola Sibson教授说道，如果我们不能绘制出肿瘤边缘的图像，那么外科手术及放疗方法或许就不会成功移除恶性的脑瘤细胞，从而患者就会发生肿瘤复发。
这项研究中研究者阐述了最新的研究成果，这或将帮助改善科学家们对患者脑瘤图谱的绘制，也帮助临床医生们进行更加有效的疗法来治疗癌症患者。清楚地绘制脑瘤边缘的情况对于患者进行外科手术治疗及放疗治疗非常关键，本项研究成果将帮助科学家们利用新型成像技术来成功移除肿瘤，从而治疗患者并且降低患者的癌症复发。
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Scientists discover how to better map brain tumors
Scientists have discovered a protein that helps map the edge of brain tumours more clearly so they show up on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, according to new research presented at the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Cancer Conference in Liverpool today.
The laboratory research, carried out in rats, could lead to clinical trials aimed at improving the accuracy of brain tumour treatment.
For the first time, scientists have identified a protein inside blood vessels found at the invasive edge of brain tumours - highlighting the area from wher cancer is most likely to spread.
This protein is produced as part of an inflammatory response caused by the brain tumour. Mapping this inflammation gives scientists a more complete picture of the cancer.
The scientists have developed a special dye that recognises and sticks to the protein - VCAM-1 - on the brain blood vessels and this can be seen on MRI scans. importantly, the protein is on the inside of the vessels, providing an accessible target from the bloodstream.
This new research gives scientists the most complete picture of brain tumours yet, and for the first time the edge of a growing tumour has been mapped. These cells are the most important to catch as they are the most likely to spread.
Clinical MRI techniques can show images of leaky blood vessels in patients, often a sign of brain tumours. Unfortunately, blood vessels near the edge of brain tumours are often intact, so the MRI fails to reveal the whole tumour......