--- title: "New Laser Zaps and Destroys Cancer Cells in Real Time" description: "A team of scientists successfully tested a laser that can track down cancer cells and kill them — all by simply shining a light from outside the skin." date: "2019-06-12" modified: "2019-06-13" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/neoscope/laser-destroy-cancer-cells" categories: - "Cancer" - "Health & Medicine" - "Medical" tags: - "cancer" - "cancer diagnosis" - "laser" - "the digest" --- # New Laser Zaps and Destroys Cancer Cells in Real Time ![A team of scientists successfully tested a laser that can track down cancer cells and kill them — all by simply shining a light from outside the skin.]() *\Image: Shutterstock/Victor Tangermann\* ## Cancer Zapper A team of scientists from the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences have successfully tested a laser that can track down cancer cells and kill them — all from outside the skin. While being completely non-invasive, "this technology has the potential to significantly inhibit metastasis progression," Vladimir Zharov, author of [the paper]() that was published today in *Science Translational Medicine*, [tells ]()*[IEEE Spectrum]().* The idea is to kill of cancer cells before they are able to metastasize, or spread, through the body — the primary cause of cancer-related deaths. ## Popping By shining a laser at these circulating tumor cells, they end up absorbing far more heat energy than regular cells. The heat causes them to expand and collapse. "The use of lasers has revolutionized disease diagnosis and treatment. However, the large size of lasers has prevented their use in many medical applications at the cellular level," said Zharo in [a 2017 statement](). And the results are promising: "In one patient, we destroyed 96 percent of the tumor cells," said Zharov. And that's before they cranked the laser to max power. ## Blood Pact It's not the first device of its kind, but Zharov claims it's the first to be demonstrated in humans. [Dozens of devices]() have tried something similar, including a [wrist-worn device]() put together by University of Michigan researchers. But the new device has another big advantage: it can scan a liter of blood in an hour — far quicker than competing devices. *Editor's note 6/13: This article misstated the institution behind the new cancer research. It has been updated.* **READ MORE:** [Laser Destroys Cancer Cells Circulating in the Blood]() \[*IEEE Spectrum*\] **More on cancer:** *[Israeli Scientists: We'll Have a Cure for Cancer Within a Year]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()