Near-infrared fatty acid molecular probe for image-guided surgery of glioblastoma

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Biomedical Imaging
• Molecular Imaging

Background:

• Metabolic reprogramming is crucial for cancer growth, yet in vivo monitoring of fatty acid (FA) uptake remains difficult.
• Fatty acids are vital energy sources for many tumor types, including glioblastoma (GBM).
• Accurate assessment of tumor margins is critical for effective cancer surgery, particularly for GBM.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel near-infrared (NIR) imaging reagent for real-time, non-invasive visualization of FA absorption.
• To demonstrate the utility of this FA-NIR probe in image-guided cancer surgery.
• To assess FA metabolism in glioblastoma models and companion animal cancers.

Main Methods:

• Development of a novel long-chain fatty acid conjugated to an indocyanine green (FA-ICG) imaging reagent.
• In vitro and in vivo imaging of FA absorption using the FA-ICG probe.
• Application of the probe in orthotopic glioblastoma models and companion dogs with mastocytomas.

Main Results:

• The FA-ICG probe enabled real-time, non-invasive imaging of FA uptake in vitro and in vivo.
• Successful NIR imaging of FA uptake was demonstrated in two orthotopic GBM models.
• Probe uptake was validated in companion dogs with mastocytomas, showing similar cancer pathology.
• The probe combines NIR imaging benefits (sensitivity, low autofluorescence, deep penetration) with specific tumor targeting.

Conclusions:

• The FA-ICG probe is a promising tool for metabolic imaging and image-guided cancer surgery.
• It offers specific tumor metabolism-based targeting and retention for enhanced visualization.
• Potential applications include metabolic imaging, drug development, and translation to clinical image-guided surgery.