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Updated: Mar 11, 2026
Quantitative Visualization and Detection of Skin Cancer Using Dynamic Thermal Imaging
Published on: May 5, 2011
Rapid visualization of nonmelanoma skin cancer
Ethan Walker1, Margaret Mann2, Kord Honda2
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.
Background:
Mohs micrographic surgery examines all margins of the resected sample and has a 99% cure rate. However, many nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) are not readily amenable to Mohs micrographic surgery. This defines an unmet clinical need to assess the completeness of non-Mohs micrographic surgery resections during surgery to prevent re-excision/recurrence.
Objective:
We sought to examine the utility of quenched activity-based probe imaging to discriminate cancerous versus normal-appearing skin tissue.
Methods:
The quenched activity-based probe GB119 was applied to NMSC excised from 68 patients. We validated activation of the probe for hematoxylin-eosin-confirmed cancerous tissue versus normal-appearing skin tissue.
Results:
Topical application of the probe differentiated basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma from normal-appearing skin with overall estimated sensitivity and specificity of 0.989 (95% confidence interval 0.940-1.00) and 0.894 (95% confidence interval 0.769-0.965), respectively. Probe activation accurately defined peripheral margins of NMSC as compared with conventional hematoxylin-eosin-based pathology.
Limitations:
This study only examined NMSC debulking excision specimens. The sensitivity and specificity for this approach using final NMSC excision margins will be clinically important.
Conclusions:
These findings merit further studies to determine whether quenched activity-based probe technology may enable cost-effective increased cure rates for patients with NMSC by reducing re-excision and recurrence rates with a rapid and easily interpretable technological advance.
Insights
A new imaging probe accurately distinguishes nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) from healthy tissue. This technology could improve surgical accuracy, potentially reducing the need for repeat surgeries and increasing cure rates for NMSC patients.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Surgical Oncology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Mohs micrographic surgery offers a high cure rate but is not suitable for all nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSCs).
- An unmet clinical need exists to assess the completeness of NMSC resections during non-Mohs surgery.
- Preventing re-excision and recurrence is crucial for improving patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of quenched activity-based probe imaging in differentiating cancerous from normal-appearing skin tissue.
- To assess the utility of probe GB119 in identifying NMSCs during surgical procedures.
Main Methods:
- The quenched activity-based probe GB119 was applied topically to NMSC tissue from 68 patients.
- Probe activation was validated against hematoxylin-eosin-confirmed cancerous and normal-appearing skin tissue.
- The probe's ability to define peripheral margins of NMSC was compared to conventional pathology.
Main Results:
- The probe successfully differentiated basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma from normal skin.
- High sensitivity (0.989) and specificity (0.894) were observed in distinguishing cancerous tissue.
- Probe activation accurately identified NMSC peripheral margins, aligning with pathology results.
Conclusions:
- Quenched activity-based probe imaging shows promise for intraoperative assessment of NMSC margins.
- Further studies are needed to confirm sensitivity and specificity for final NMSC excision margins.
- This technology may offer a cost-effective method to increase NMSC cure rates by reducing re-excisions and recurrences.
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