FDA Approves"Glowing Tumor" Imaging Drug.

• Position: OVARIAN CANCER

An imaging drug known as Cytalux (pafolacianine), which is attracted to ovarian cancer tissue and illuminates it when exposed to fluorescent light, allowing surgeons to more easily find and more precisely remove the cancer, has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

The approach brings fresh hope to patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer, about half of whom experience a recurrence of their disease after initial treatment.

Only 20% of ovarian cancers are found early, as there often are no symptoms--or they may mimic other common bladder, bowel, or gastrointestinal issues--and there is no screening test like those for breast and cervical cancer. By the time most women receive their diagnosis, the disease has advanced, which can include spread to intra-abdominal organs. Most patients then require surgery--also called cytore-duction, or debulking surgery--in an effort to remove tumors, as well as receiving chemotherapy.

"Lighting up cancer, which helps to identify lesions that may be difficult to find--especially in the presence of scar tissue or other organ damage-enables more complete identification and surgical removal of cancer that could have otherwise been missed," says Janos L. Tanyi, associate professor of...