Virally-directed fluorescent imaging (VFI) can facilitate endoscopic staging

Area of Science:

• Oncolytic virotherapy
• Molecular imaging
• Cancer diagnostics

Background:

• Replication-competent herpes simplex virus NV1066 specifically infects and expresses green fluorescent protein (GFP) in tumor cells.
• Investigated the potential of GFP-guided imaging for intraoperative detection of small tumor nodules.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility of using NV1066-expressed GFP for intraoperative tumor detection.
• To assess the specificity and sensitivity of GFP-guided imaging in identifying small tumor nodules.

Main Methods:

• Human cancer cell lines were infected with NV1066 at various multiplicities of infection (MOI).
• In vitro analysis included flow cytometry and time-lapse digital imaging to measure infectivity, spread, and GFP intensity.
• In vivo assessment utilized stereomicroscopy and endoscopy with fluorescent filters.

Main Results:

• NV1066 successfully infected all tested cancer cell lines, expressing GFP at all MOIs.
• GFP signal intensity in infected cells was significantly higher than normal cell autofluorescence.
• NV1066 selectively infected tumor nodules, spreading within and across body cavities while sparing normal tissue, enabling detection of otherwise undetectable nodules.

Conclusions:

• Virally-directed fluorescent imaging (VFI) is a novel, real-time molecular imaging technology.
• VFI holds significant potential for improving intraoperative detection of endoluminal or endocavitary tumor nodules.
• This approach may enhance surgical precision and patient outcomes by improving tumor visualization.