Frequently Asked Questions and Answers About TumorGlow® Technology

The dye, because of how it has been engineered, is attracted to the tumor. The results of the clinical trials so far have shown that this dye gets soaked up by the tumor. It doesn’t make the tumor glow right away, but the moment the body is opened and it is exposed to light, [the dye] becomes activated and the tumor starts glowing.

There are two main benefits to the patient. The first benefit is that by seeing where the tumor is located, the surgeon can make sure to get it all out. This investigational method can make surgery safer for the patient if it allows the surgeons to cut out only what they need to take out, and nothing else. We believe that this approach will prove to be more precise. 

Another benefit we have seen in these studies is the dye’s ability to “find” cancerous lymph nodes. This is especially important because identification of disease in the lymph nodes tells the oncologist that you may need to give the patient more chemotherapy, or that their cancer has progressed. This technology may also allow us to identify which lymph nodes we should take out and which lymph nodes we should leave in.

This is a relatively safe procedure, and the most commonly reported side effect would be an allergic reaction to the dye. Talk to your physician if you have had a prior allergy to contrast dyes.

No, this is an investigational technique currently under clinical trial. With the great success we have seen to date, our hope is that the FDA will approve this approach and that it will rapidly become a standard of care when surgically resecting cancers. If approved, the goal of this technology is to more accurately stage the severity of the patient’s cancer and reduce the recurrence rate after surgery.

There is no additional cost to participate in the clinical trial as opposed to the standard of care. The costs of the clinical trials are covered through the Center for Precision Surgery. Please note that it is always best practice to communicate with your health benefits provider prior to any medical procedure to fully understand your financial obligation.

To find out if you are a qualified candidate for the clinical trial, discuss the eligibility criteria with your doctor or speak with a Penn Medicine clinical trial navigator by calling 855-216-0098 (available 9 am to 5 pm EST, Monday through Friday).