Surgeons at the Arizona Center for Cancer Care are using a new tool that quite literally makes tumors glow. Gynecologic oncologist Dr. Arvind Bakhru explains that when he switches on an infrared light during minimally invasive surgery, cancerous lesions fluoresce green, guiding removal with far greater precision. The effect comes from Cytalux, a drug developed by On Target Laboratories and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for ovarian cancer in 2021 and lung cancer in 2022.
Administered intravenously before surgery, Cytalux binds to folate receptors—proteins often overexpressed in cancer cells because of their rapid growth. Under infrared light, tumors stand out vividly while healthy tissue remains dim. Clinical trials showed the drug could uncover hidden lesions in over 30% of ovarian cancer patients, and since its commercial rollout in late 2023 it has been used in more than 1,000 operations.
Doctors say the technology reduces the risk of leaving behind undetected cancer, a problem especially acute in ovarian and lung cancers where small or hidden lesions can determine long-term survival. “The completeness of surgery really matters,” Bakhru notes, adding that even tiny growths can be crucial to remove. Thoracic surgeon Dr. Ryan Levy agrees, calling Cytalux a safeguard against the “nightmare scenario” of believing all disease is gone when it isn’t.
With folate receptors present in an estimated 85% of cancers, On Target Laboratories’ CEO Bill Peters believes the potential applications go far beyond ovarian and lung tumors. For now, Cytalux stands alone as the only FDA-approved drug of its kind, but it is already reshaping expectations of what precision surgery can achieve—giving surgeons sharper tools and patients renewed hope.
