Targeted NIR Fluorophore for Tumor Margin Imaging and Ablation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical methods for breast cancer surgery, such as breast conservation surgery (BCS), struggle to accurately determine tumor margins, leading to high rates of positive surgical margins (PSMs) and subsequent re-excision surgeries, which increase costs and recurrence risks.
Innovation Solution
The use of a cancer cell-targeted cyanine near-infrared fluorophore for fluorescence image-guided surgery (FIGS) and photodynamic or photothermal therapy (PDT/PTT) to visualize and ablate residual cancer cells during surgery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional surgical methods are used to remove tumor tissue, then the surgical procedure can be performed, but the ability to accurately determine tumor margins is poor, leading to high rates of positive surgical margins
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs fluorescent tracers that cause tumor tissues to emit fluorescent light, creating a visual color/fluorescence change that allows real-time differentiation between tumor and normal tissues during surgery. This enables surgeons to accurately identify and remove all tumor tissue, including microscopic margins that are invisible to conventional lighting.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces fluorescent tracers as intermediary substances that accumulate in tumor tissues. These tracers act as mediators between the surgeon's visual system and the tumor tissue, providing enhanced contrast and visibility of tumor margins without directly altering the tissue structure or causing harm to surrounding healthy tissues.
2Reliability
If re-excision surgery is performed to address positive margins, then complete resection can be achieved, but patient costs increase and local recurrence risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies fluorescent tracers before surgery to pre-label tumor tissues, allowing the surgeon to visualize and remove all tumor tissue during the initial procedure. This preliminary marking eliminates the need for subsequent re-excision surgeries and reduces the risk of local recurrence by ensuring complete removal of tumor margins in the first operation.
3Measurement precision
If fluorescent tracers are administered to enhance tumor visibility, then tumor margin identification improves, but the complexity of the surgical system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the imaging function from the surgical system by using passive fluorescent tracers that emit light naturally. Instead of integrating complex active imaging devices into the surgical field, the system uses pre-administered tracers that provide visual information through simple fluorescence detection, thereby improving tumor margin detection without significantly increasing surgical system complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances the ability to precisely identify and remove cancer cells, reducing the need for re-excision surgeries and lowering local recurrence rates while improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs.
Implementation Method 1
Remaining or residual cells at the determined location after surgical resection that are detected by, bound to, and/or complexed with the cancer cell-targeted cyanine near-infrared fluorophore are irradiated at a wavelength effective to ablate the remaining cancer cells
Implementation Method 2
a photodynamic therapy (PDT) and/or a photothermal therapy (PTT) for treating cancer
Data Source
AI summary
A theranostic for treating cancer in a subject in need thereof includes a cancer cell-targeted cyanine near-infrared fluorophore for use in a method of (i) fluorescence image guided surgery (FIGS) and (ii) a photodynamic therapy (PDT) and/or a photothermal therapy (PTT).