Singapore: Scientists at the Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical sciences declared that they had developed a novel cancer treatment system that can simultaneously diagnose and treat cancer cells.

Explaining this clinching discovery, Mr Kang Joo-hyun, lead researcher said, "The unique cancer treating system used positron emission tomography (PET) technology to widely diagnose and treat cancers." Researchers said that the procedure involved intravenous injection of radioactive isotope copper-64 which enters the cancer cells and produces three dimensional imaging of functional processes in the body.

The team added that using PET progress of the cancer and its susceptibility to treatment can be monitored. Mr Joo-hyun noted that unlike MRI or CT scans, PET scan also assess the functional aspects of the cell.

Mr Joo-hyun said that the research was at preliminary level and the team intended to develop copper-based radiopharmaceutical drugs next year.

He said that he was hopeful to begin clinical tests, in cooperation with Seoul National and Sungkyunkwan universities by next year.