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SPECIFIC MOLECULAR RECOGNITION AS A STRATEGY TO DELINEATE TUMOR MARGIN USING TOPICALLY APPLIED FLUORESCENCE EMBEDDED
Shawn Barton1, Bo Li1, Michael Siuta1
1Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Nashville, TN.
Precision Nanomedicine
|November 28, 2019
Summary
Researchers developed novel fluorescent nanospheres to detect the Thomsen-Friedenreich (TF) antigen in pancreatic cancer. This imaging probe accurately visualizes tumor margins, aiding surgical resection and improving patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- The Thomsen-Friedenreich (TF) antigen is a key tumor-associated antigen found on epithelial cancers, including pancreatic cancer.
- Accurate detection and visualization of tumor margins are critical for effective surgical resection and improved patient outcomes in pancreatic cancer.
- Current imaging methods may have limitations in precisely defining tumor boundaries, especially in complex anatomical regions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a novel multimodal imaging probe for detecting the TF antigen in pancreatic cancer.
- To assess the probe's ability to differentiate between cancerous and normal tissues and visualize tumor margins.
- To investigate the in vivo potential of the probe for laparoscopic imaging in preclinical models.
Main Methods:
- Development of tripolymer fluorescent nanospheres functionalized with peanut agglutinin (PNA) for TF antigen recognition.
- Testing the probe's detection capabilities in human pancreatic cancer tissues and normal tissues.
- Preclinical in vivo studies using an orthotopic mouse model of pancreatic cancer for laparoscopic imaging assessment.
Main Results:
- The developed nanosphere probe successfully detected the TF antigen in human pancreatic cancer tissues.
- The probe effectively differentiated between tumor and normal tissues based on TF antigen expression.
- The probe visualized tumor margins defined by epithelial TF antigen expression, with promising in vivo results in a mouse model.
Conclusions:
- The novel fluorescent nanosphere probe demonstrates significant potential for detecting TF antigen in pancreatic cancer.
- The probe's ability to visualize tumor margins offers a valuable tool for enhancing surgical precision.
- Further development and application of this nanosphere probe could lead to improved surgical resection and patient outcomes in pancreatic cancer treatment.
