A fibroblast activation protein targeted optical tracer for identifying primary and metastatic sarcoma during resection.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Sarcomas represent a heterogeneous group of mesenchymal tumors that, despite accounting for only 1% of cancers worldwide, rank among the top five causes of cancer-related deaths in patients under 20 years old. Surgical resection remains the primary treatment for these malignancies, as effective systemic therapies are limited, particularly for high-grade disease. However, surgical outcomes are often compromised by incomplete resection, leading to high local and distal recurrence rates. Intraoperative molecular imaging has emerged as a promising approach to improve surgical outcomes but has been hindered by the lack of tumor-specific targeting agents. Fibroblast activation protein (FAP), selectively expressed by mesenchymal tumors and absent in healthy tissues, presents a

SUBMITTER: Azari F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12307272 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature