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Detection of Lymph Node Metastases with SERRS Nanoparticles
Massimiliano Spaliviero1,2, Stefan Harmsen1, Ruimin Huang1
1Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
Molecular Imaging and Biology
|March 5, 2016
Summary
Gold-silica nanoparticles for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERRS) can accurately distinguish cancerous from healthy lymph nodes during surgery. This novel imaging approach aids prostate cancer treatment decisions by precisely identifying metastatic spread intraoperatively.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Oncology
Background:
- Accurate detection of lymph node metastases is crucial for prostate cancer treatment planning.
- Current methods for intraoperative assessment of lymph node status can be limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and test gold-silica surface-enhanced resonance Raman spectroscopy (SERRS) nanoparticles for intraoperative imaging.
- To distinguish normal lymph nodes from those with metastatic prostate cancer.
Main Methods:
- An orthotopic prostate cancer mouse model (PC-3 cells) was used.
- Mice received intravenous injections of SERRS nanoparticles.
- Lymph nodes were analyzed using Raman imaging, handheld Raman scanning, fluorescence imaging, and histology.
Main Results:
- SERRS nanoparticles showed high uptake in normal lymph nodes and negligible uptake in metastatic areas.
- The SERRS signal precisely identified healthy and metastasized lymph node components with sub-millimeter accuracy.
- Partial tumor infiltration was accurately delineated.
Conclusions:
- This study provides proof-of-principle for SERRS nanoparticles in intraoperative lymph node assessment.
- SERRS nanoparticles enable rapid and high-precision discrimination between normal and metastatic lymph nodes.
- This technology has potential to improve surgical decision-making in prostate cancer.
