Glow-in-the-Dark dye could help surgeons spot hidden prostate cancer
NCT ID NCT06434909
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This completed Phase 2 trial tested an imaging dye called Cytalux (pafolacianine) in 9 men with prostate cancer. The dye is injected before surgery and makes cancer cells glow under near-infrared light, helping surgeons see and remove all cancerous tissue during prostate removal. The goal was to see if this technique finds cancer that standard methods might miss.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Cytalux (pafolacianine) injection
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this imaging agent could help surgeons remove more prostate cancer during surgery, potentially reducing the chance of leftover cancer.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small, early-phase study with only 9 participants. The results may not apply to all prostate cancer patients, and the imaging agent may not improve outcomes in larger trials.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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IU Health Joe and Shelly Schwarz Cancer Center
Carmel, Indiana, 46032, United States
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Indiana University Health Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center
Indianapolis, Indiana, 46202, United States
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Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital
Indianapolis, Indiana, 46202, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- A surgical tweak may speed bladder control recovery after prostate removal
- Smarter prostate cancer screening: a blood test that may cut unnecessary biopsies
- Glow-in-the-dark dye may help surgeons spot hidden prostate cancer cells
- Blood DNA fragments and MRI join forces to spot hidden prostate cancer
- Can an AI agent match expert urologists? a major test begins
- Pumping iron to fight cancer's hidden immune toll