Brazil tests cancer-detecting pen for first time in clinical trials

A groundbreaking cancer-detection device developed by Brazilian chemist Livia Eberlin is being tested for the first time in Brazil. The handheld instrument, shaped like a pen, can identify cancerous tissue in real time and is now undergoing clinical trials at the hospitals in Sao Paulo. This is reported by Metropoles, a partner of TV BRICS.

The study, which will run for 24 months, involves 60 oncology patients – 30 with lung cancer and 30 with thyroid cancer – selected based on surgical accessibility and diagnostic complexity. The trials aim to adapt the technology to Brazil’s clinical reality and assess its accuracy in detecting these types of tumours.

The device works by analysing the molecular signature of tissues. During surgery, the pen’s tip touches the area under examination, releasing a drop of sterile water to collect surface molecules. The sample is then drawn into a mass spectrometer, which analyses it within seconds. Using artificial intelligence, the system compares the molecular profile against a database and delivers a diagnosis in under 90 seconds.

According to researchers, the innovation has the potential to make operations faster, safer, and more precise, reducing the risk of removing healthy tissue and improving patient outcomes.

In Brazil, it represents a major step toward integrating advanced molecular diagnostics into the country’s healthcare system.

Photo: Artmim /  iStock