Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2026
12:24
Computed Tomography-guided Time-domain Diffuse Fluorescence Tomography in Small Animals for Localization of Cancer Biomarkers
Published on: July 17, 2012
12.3K
Intraoperative Guidance of Pancreatic Cancer Resection Using a Toll-like Receptor 2-Targeted Fluorescence Molecular
Amanda S Huynh1, Allison S Cohen1, Michael Doligalski1
1Department of Metabolism and Physiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida.
Cancer Research Communications
|September 25, 2024
Summary
Fluorescence-guided surgery using TLR2L-800 significantly improved survival rates in pancreatic cancer models by enabling real-time tumor margin detection. This novel imaging agent enhances R0 margin achievement, offering potential for better patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Medical Imaging
- Surgical Innovation
Background:
- Pancreatic cancer has low survival rates, often due to incomplete surgical removal (positive margins).
- Accurate intraoperative assessment of tumor margins is crucial for improving surgical success and patient survival.
- Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) is frequently expressed in pancreatic adenocarcinomas, presenting a potential therapeutic target.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of a novel Toll-like receptor 2-targeted fluorescence molecular imaging agent (TLR2L-800) for real-time intraoperative tumor margin detection.
- To assess the impact of fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS) using TLR2L-800 on survival rates in a preclinical model of pancreatic cancer.
- To determine if FGS can increase the achievement of negative R0 surgical margins.
Main Methods:
- Development of a high-affinity TLR2-targeted fluorescence molecular imaging agent, TLR2L-800.
- Utilized an orthotopic human pancreatic xenograft tumor model in nude mice.
- Compared surgical outcomes and survival rates between FGS with TLR2L-800, visible light surgery (VLS), and a no-surgery group.
Main Results:
- Fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS) resulted in a 53% survival rate at 41 days post-surgery, significantly higher than the 0% survival in the VLS group.
- The overall 200-day survival rate for the FGS group was 35%, compared to 0% for the VLS group (P=0.0018).
- TLR2L-800 facilitated real-time intraoperative tumor detection, aiding in achieving clearer surgical margins.
Conclusions:
- The study demonstrates that real-time FGS using the TLR2L-800 imaging agent can significantly improve disease-free survival in pancreatic cancer.
- Achieving negative R0 margins is enhanced by using novel tumor-targeted fluorescence molecular imaging agents.
- TLR2L-800 shows promise for improving surgical outcomes and survival rates for pancreatic cancer patients.
