Optical imaging of oral squamous cell carcinoma and cervical lymph node metastasis

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Medical Imaging
• Surgical Technology

Background:

• Intraoperative optical imaging can assist surgeons in identifying clear tumor margins during oral cancer surgery.
• Accurate margin assessment is crucial for complete tumor resection and improved patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging agents for detecting oral cancer and cervical lymph node metastases.
• To assess the potential of image-guided surgery for enhancing oral cancer resection.

Main Methods:

• Mice with tongue carcinoma and lymph node metastases were administered NIR fluorescence agents targeting either the epidermal growth factor receptor (CW800 EGF) or the glucose transporter system (CW800 2-DG).
• Tumor growth was monitored using bioluminescence imaging, and fluorescence signals were compared between tumor-bearing and control animals.
• Histopathology was used to correlate fluorescence signals with tumor presence.

Main Results:

• Significantly higher fluorescence signals were observed in tongue tumors and lymph node metastases compared to healthy tissues.
• CW800 EGF demonstrated tumor-to-background ratios of 13.8 in the tongue and 15.7 in lymph nodes.
• CW800 2-DG showed tumor-to-background ratios of 4.6 in the tongue and a high ratio of 33.9 in lymph nodes, indicating strong tumor specificity.

Conclusions:

• Optical imaging using NIR fluorescence agents is effective for detecting oral cancer and associated lymph node metastases.
• This technology holds promise for improving the completeness of surgical resection through real-time image-guided surgery.