Lizard spit can help detect a rare pancreatic tumor

Elusive insulinomas can cause dangerous dips in blood sugar

photo of Gila monster

A protein found in the saliva of Gila monsters (one shown) can bind to certain cells in the pancreas, making it a potentially useful tracer for scans for a rare, benign type of pancreatic tumor.

Michael D. Kern/Nature Picture Library

A molecule in lizard saliva may make it easier to find certain tumors in the pancreas.