Ex vivo fluorescence-guided resection margin assessment in breast cancer surgery using a topically applied, cathepsin-activatable imaging agent.

ABSTRACT: Up to 40 % of breast cancer patients have a tumor-positive resection margin (TPRM) - defined as cancer cells at the surface of the resected specimen - after breast-conserving surgery (BCS), necessitating re-resection or boost radiation. To prevent these additional treatments, intraoperative near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging with the topically applied, cathepsin-activatable imaging agent AKRO-6qcICG might be used to detect TPRMs and guide additional resection. Here, to validate its performance, the agent is topically applied to all surfaces of freshly resected breast cancer specimens (n = 11 patients) and to 3-5 mm thick tissue slices of the specimens (n = 26 patients). NIR fluorescence images of the resection surfaces and tissue slices are acquired and correlated to final histopatho

SUBMITTER: Linders DGJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12318534 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature