Fruit flies can use their olfactory
sense to distinguish between malignant and healthy cells. The researchers of
the University of Konstanz and the University La Sapienza in Rome, Italy, have
led out this research. Basic concept behind this research is based how
characteristic patterns in the olfactory receptors of transgenic Drosophilae
can be recorded on the scent activation. Along with the clear distinction between
healthy cells and cancer cells; groupings could also be identified among the
different cancer cells. According to Giovanni Galizia, such specificity, high
sensitivity and quantifiable laboratory
results ca not be matched by even electronic noses or gas chromatography. This
natural olfactory system detect even
extremely small differences in scent between healthy cells and cancer cells. However,This
fact has already been depicted in experiments with dogs these results are not
objectifiable and are thus not applicable for a systematic medical diagnosis.
The fact used by the researchers was
that single odorant molecule dock to the
receptor neurons of the flies’ antenna resulting in neuron activation. It was
clear in imaging technique developed by the researchers that each different
odorant molecule of respective scent sample create specific pattern of
activated neurons, which due to genetic modification, can fluoresce under
microscope when active. In the experiment five different types of breast cancer
cell lines were analyzed, compared to healthy cells and clearly divergent
patterns were generated.
Alja Lüdke, member
of the research unit and researcher at the University of Konstanz , explained
that even different types of breast cancer cells can be differentiated via the
antenna of Drosophila.
Hence researchers claim
that if this finding is combined with the current technology, it can lead to
the development of a cheap, fast and highly-efficient pre-screening that can detect
cancer cells well before we can discover them with the present diagnostic
imaging techniques
