Scientists Use Cell Movement to Detect Cancer

In April 2025, researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University revealed that analysing how cells move using label-free microscopy can accurately distinguish cancerous from healthy cells.

Key Points

Cancer Detection Breakthrough: Researchers tracked cell motion using phase-contrast microscopy, enabling identification of cancerous cells based on movement alone.
High Accuracy: By analysing features like “sum of turn angles” and shallow turn frequency, they achieved up to 94% accuracy in distinguishing malignant from healthy cells.
Tech Advantage: The method uses label-free phase-contrast microscopy, preserving cell behaviour and avoiding interference from plastic petri dish properties.
Cell Types Studied: The team compared healthy fibroblasts with fibrosarcoma cancer cells — both from fibrous connective tissue.
New Diagnostic Tool: This approach could become a powerful, non-invasive method for early cancer detection and real-time tissue health monitoring.
Broader Impact: The technique may also aid research on wound healing and tissue regeneration by providing insights into cell motility.