UCHealth Employs Innovative Technology to Detect Previously Missed Cancer Cells
AURORA, Colo.—Surgeons at UCHealth Anschutz Cancer Pavilion in Aurora are pioneering the use of a groundbreaking technology that enables them to identify cancer cells that traditional methods might overlook. This advancement is being hailed as a significant step forward in cancer surgery, enhancing the precision with which doctors can detect and remove malignancies.
The key to this innovation is a molecule called pafolacianine, marketed under the name CYTALUX, which has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in detecting cancer cells in the lungs and ovaries. Pafolacianine works by binding specifically to cancer cells and illuminating them with fluorescent markers, causing the cells to glow under near-infrared light.
The procedural process involves infusing patients with pafolacianine several hours before surgery. During the operation, surgeons utilize robotic assistance combined with a specialized camera system and near-infrared light to visualize the fluorescent signal emitted by cancer cells. This enables surgeons to spot tumors that may not be visible to the naked eye or detectable on CT scans.
Dr. Robert Meguid, a surgeon specializing in the lungs, esophagus, and chest wall at UCHealth, shared insights about the impact of this technology. According to Dr. Meguid, pafolacianine has proven particularly effective in highlighting cancer cells that otherwise could go undetected. He emphasized that it empowers his surgical team with greater confidence that all malignant tissue has been excised during procedures.
Dr. Meguid also noted the technology’s value for patients whose cancers have metastasized to the lungs from other parts of the body. “This is, to me, a really exciting time in healthcare,” he stated. “Because there are so many advances that are making it to patient care delivery that are improving their outcomes, helping patients to be cancer free or have an improved quality of life.”
Although currently only a handful of medical centers nationwide have adopted pafolacianine, its use is gaining momentum. UCHealth Anschutz Cancer Pavilion has been utilizing this technology for approximately a year and a half and was the first center in Colorado to apply it in adult lung surgeries.
UCHealth’s commitment to integrating this cutting-edge technology reflects ongoing efforts to enhance cancer care and surgical outcomes for patients. As new tools like pafolacianine become more widely available, they hold promise for improving early detection and complete removal of cancerous tissues.
For more information or to contact the reporter covering this story, please reach out to Ryan Fish at Denver7. © 2026 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
